Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn has visited China, called “the first Thai King to visit mainland China in 800 years” by Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post. It falls on the 50th anniversary of official relations between China and Thailand. While signifying strong ties between the two countries, it also demonstrates growing ties between China and ASEAN at large. Thailand still has a military alliance with the U.S., but relations with China have grown significantly.
China is Thailand’s leading trade partner, and China is building the rail route connecting China with Bangkok.
China showed its respect for the King’s visit by inviting him and his wife to visit the Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Centre (BACC), where they greeted the taikonauts, who appeared via a large screen from China’s space station, the Tiangong, or “Heavenly Palace.” Very few foreigners are allowed to visit the Control Centre.
The King’s father, former King Bhumibol Adulyade, served as monarch from 1946 until his death in 2016. He was very close to the U.S., hosting much of the U.S. air and sea forces (and U.S. soldiers on R&D from the war) during the U.S. war with Vietnam. He never visited China, although one of his daughters was close to Beijing.
The Thai government said in a statement that King’s trip “underlines the deep-rooted friendship and mutual understanding shared between Thailand and China at all levels.”
China’s President Xi Jinping and his wife will also host a state banquet for the Thai royals. Many Thais can trace their ancestry to migrants who came from China, and the Chinese government often highlights what it calls their “brotherly” or “family” relations.
