Thailand: Shifting Ground Between the US and a Rising China

Since the World War II, Thailand has positioned itself as a key strategic ally of the United States, serving as a bulwark against communism in Southeast Asia and as a base for American troops during the Vietnam War. In return, the United States has provided millions of dollars in military and economic aid, while staunchly supporting the country’s despotic regimes. However, recent decades have seen a striking reversal in Thailand’s foreign relations, with China, once a sworn enemy, now treate…