King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand was invited by President Xi Jinping of China, to a state visit to mark 50 years since both countries established diplomatic ties for the first time in 1975. China is believed to have been pushing for this visit to happen for some years, and it finally took place on Thursday, 13 November.
In response to the invite, the Government of Thailand made a statement that the trip, “underlines the deep-rooted friendship and mutual understanding shared between Thailand and China on all levels”.
The trip consisted of a state banquet held by President Xi and his wife, and visits to local landmarks and religious sites in Beijing, such as the Lingguang Buddhist Temple.
The visit also took place during a period of national mourning. Queen Sirikit, King Vajiralongkorn’s Mother, died just three weeks earlier aged 93, prompting a year-long mourning period across Thailand. Many public events were cancelled or adjusted out of respect; such as the sold-out Blackpink concerts in Bangkok that weekend, which asked fans to wear black, and held a minute’s silence.
This visit is the first major visit by King Vajiralongkorn since he came to the throne nine years ago. In contrast to this, his father made many high profile trips to the United States in the 1960s, when Thailand was a crucial Cold War partner and ally. This relationship was vital for the US’s control of bases in Indochina and Thailand. During Operation Rolling Thunder, a large-scale bombing mission against North Vietnam, the US primarily launched from bases in Thailand. The operation was key for weakening North Vietnam during the Vietnam War.
Although Thailand is still officially a military ally of the US, its relations with China have strengthened significantly in recent years. This state visit is a clear sign that China wants to build its relationship with Thailand.
China has also become Thailand’s biggest trading partner and is quickly challenging the US as Thailand’s main source of military equipment. In 2024, the Royal Thai Army adopted Chinese QBZ-195T rifles, making Thailand the first nation outside of China to do so.
While relations between the two countries have improved, they have not been without setbacks and tensions. In August, an exhibition at Bangkok’s main arts centre featuring Uyghur and Tibetan artists was censored following complaints made by Chinese diplomats. Earlier this year, Thai authorities deported 40 Uyghur asylum seekers back to China, defying warnings not to do so made by US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. China has been accused by various governments and organisations, such as the Human Rights Watch, of subjecting Uyghurs living in Xinjiang to persecution, including forced labour and forced sterilisation. Thailand’s decision only added to the tensions surrounding this controversy, and strained its relations with China.
Despite these controversies, relations have remained generally positive. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand has long been a major bridge between the two nations. She has studied China for a long time and visited nearly 50 times, covering almost all of its regions and provinces. In 2001, she made a special trip to study at Peking University, where she received an Honorary Doctorate. The Princess was even honoured in 2019 by President Xi with the Friendship Medal, the highest honorary medal bestowed on foreign nationals. She is widely regarded as a vital link between the two countries.
Overall, the state visit made by King Maha Vajiralongkorn is a sign that even with occasional tensions and disagreements, the relationship between Thailand and China has never been stronger. While this may benefit both countries, it also highlights the waning US-Thai strategic relations. For Western governments, this continuing decline in relations may signal a shift toward China’s ever growing dominance, and the US’s diminishing influence in the region.
York Global Affairs 