into a remarkable new era As it is the first Chinese New Year to return to open the country of the People’s Republic of China after the COVID-19 situation. The Chinese authorities stopped issuing visas to foreigners. Including issuing passports to Chinese citizens since the start of the virus epidemic of the century in the early 2020s.
last 8 january China resumes issuing travel passports again It is another big step after the strict control measures under the policy. Zero Covidž for almost 3 years and Thailand is still one of the most searched destinations by Chinese people.
From this Chinese New Year onwards It is expected that the influx of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand will return to be a familiar sight once again. Kindle a fire of hope amid a critical period of economic recovery.
Flash back to November 17th. President Xi Jinping and his wife officially visited Thailand to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum Or the 29th APEC Summit, sends interesting signals and encourages further thought.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dulyapak Preecharat Deputy Director of the Institute of East Asian Studies and a lecturer in the Southeast Asian Studies Program Faculty of Liberal Arts Thammasat University Owner of the latest book Dissecting Asian geography from Somia to Yidai, Yilu and Indo-Pacific. An in-depth analysis of the situation after China’s opening up in many dimensions
Not only as an academic but also the first Thai person to receive a Ph.D. from the University of Hong Kong political science, comparative politics same office as Dr. Sun Yat-sen revolutionary leader xinhai He also absorbed Chinese culture from a young age through his grandmother’s cultivation. people of Chinese ethnicity in the Chinese community in the Hua Ro market area Ayutthaya
An influx of Chinese tourists bring the economy to a positive signal
Beginning with the issue of opening China’s country, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dulyapak looks positive for the destination country that is a travel target that there may be many things. Whether it is an influx of Chinese tourists, which will help boost the Thai economy. Especially in the tourism and service industries. due to having very high purchasing power It also corresponds to the Chinese New Year festival. It will have a positive effect on restaurants, hotels, souvenir shops and other relevant parts, and there is also a merit to connecting travel and border trade as well.
“Various logistics links Whether coming by plane or economic and trade links along the border between northern Thailand that can be linked to Laos, Myanmar and can pass through China. There will be many virtues here. Let’s see where Chinese tourists will especially target in Thailand. May be Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, which in Lanna is interesting. Because it has a logistics connection with China.
This Chinese New Year has many things that are quite positive. That’s when more Chinese people travel abroad. stronger economic cooperation according to infrastructure Money injected together will make Chinese New Year a year of hope Ž” Assoc.Prof.Dr.Dulyaphak Analyst Before inviting back to the past that In the past, there were projects to stimulate tourism in 5 Chiang Rai, namely 1. Chiang Rai, 2. Chiang Mai in Thailand, 3. Chiang Thong, Luang Prabang in Lao PDR, 4. Keng Tung in Shan State of Burma, and 5. Chiang Rung in the tenths. Song Panna of China All of which have historical, logistical, people and cultural connections.
China and Thailand close to the US geography can’t compete close relationship at all levels
asked about the trend that Chinese people like to visit Thailand Not only beautiful tourist attractions, mouth-watering fruits, or familiar cultures, but this scholar has a deeper look at foreign policy. which is one of the key points
”The image of Thailand is presented. or well known in the eyes of the Chinese They may view Thailand as a country of convenience. There is not much pressure in terms of various practical frameworks. delicious food And not too far from China, can come by land or by plane everything is convenient
Importantly, Thailand is a country that does not pursue a foreign policy that is hostile to China. In this contemporary period, it may be seen that Thailand is trying to establish relations with the United States. But it’s not hostile to China. Thailand is a country that is very friendly to the Chinese people. Does not count the relationship of the royal family or relations among elite groups Or overseas Chinese who have come to succeed in business in Thailand. and is an important power group in the country
Assessing many dimensions only promotes stronger cooperation. It’s very positive. Relations between Thailand and China are linked at many levels, including the public, private, and public sectors, and so-called geographical closeness. which this is important And the United States is still behind China. Still can’t fight this, China can’t.
The expansion of China’s relations with other countries China can set up border trade checkpoints with ASEAN countries, especially CLMV (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam) or land countries adjacent to China. So I can do it fully. There are many trade outposts. There are trains and trade checkpoints between Laos and China. China and Myanmar And China has penetrated into northern Thailand. Therefore, I think it’s an advantage that China plays in terms of logistical and geographical links. The United States cannot do this in a similar way to China.Ž” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dulyapak explains.
Another important point is the policy of the Thai government that does not discriminate, ready to take care of Chinese and Thai tourists according to international standards. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dulyapak pointed out that It should be beneficial to strengthen relations between countries. Compared to the case of Malaysia, the government of Anwar Ibrahim has clearly signaled that Malaysian lives are the most important. Shows that it pays more attention to the people of the country than to fully accept the Chinese people. in the opposite direction to Thailand
Chinaž Main Player APEC
Xi Jinping Focus on Southeast Asia
Highlights that can’t be mentioned is that President Xi Jinping traveled to attend the APEC meeting, which Assoc. China is one of the major stakeholders. counted as the main player Visits to Thailand and other countries in Southeast Asia reflects the focus on the region.
“China is a giant country bordering the Pacific Ocean. including countries that are important special economic zones Special Administrative Regions such as Hong Kong are therefore considered to be major stakeholders for APEC. China, the United States, Russia, and Siberia border the Pacific Ocean. But there is no India, so in this corner there will be China as the main player already. but there are other superpowers together, such as Japan, etc.
What is worth watching is President Xi Jinping’s diplomatic activities. By the stage hosted by Thailand, he came by himself. But the leaders of some countries did not come, so Mr. Xi Jinping collected diplomatic points. As for other stages that are arranged in parallel both indonesia and other countries At about the same time, Mr. Xi Jinping was gone, reflecting the importance of Chinese leaders in Southeast Asia. You don’t miss any matches. Wrong with the leaders of other superpowers who came to a meeting. But the other band didn’t come. Use the agent Here it is worth looking at in terms of attending the meeting.
Thailand, which is the organizer, should be proud because Mr. Xi Jinping is the leader of a major power in Asia on a global scale, promoting bilateral relations. or reinforce the prominence of Chinese influence both in Southeast Asia Asia and the Pacific as a whole This is what I think should be important.Ž” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dulyapak said.
Yidai Yiluž A giant blueprint marking the future of the nation
Great State-Economics Chart
This scholar also views the strategy of the leader as President Xi Jinping announced a very grand political and geoeconomic chart, the Yidai Yiluž, or Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which allows China’s economy to integrate with developing countries. and the surrounding territories, both sea and non-sea As a result, China’s economic influence spreads in Asia, Europe and Africa, as well as the Pacific Ocean. indian ocean
“This is a very grand blueprint to shape China’s future development as a superpower. and create prosperity with other nations The belt will be subdivided into 6 economic corridors, with 2 of them falling into Southeast Asia, called the China-Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor. and down to Singapore This covers Thailand. covering the China-Laos railway and an important port of China-Cambodia Another country, Myanmar, is in another Chinese economic corridor. This is called an economic corridor that connects China, Myanmar, Bangladesh and India.
for the phenomenon in Southeast Asia or neighboring regions It has been greatly transformed geographically by China’s capital and logistical power coming from Belt and Road. In addition, China pays attention to the South China Sea. China sees security in Taiwan as overlapping in the South China Sea. connect together
China’s military Place warships in the South China Sea To China ports in Africa including the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific. This challenged the sphere of the United States, Australia, Britain or the Aukus (the three countries’ largest defense cooperation agreement since World War II focused on military capabilities). China Sea Land Trade World located in Thailand and all neighboring areas”Ž Assoc.Prof.Dr.Dulyaphak Analyst
Ethnographic diplomacy an encouraging dimension
Returning to the promotion of China-Thailand relations this year and beyond. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dulyapak views that must focus on tourism but may not be just the main tourist cities that is no longer popular may be extended to secondary cities Or other areas as well, which should be able to receive a lot of tourists
“You have to check which provinces have potential, such as the North, the Northeast or the South on the Andaman coast or the Gulf of Thailand, this should help. Another story is the connection between Thai-Chinese at the city level, such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, to connect with Chiang Rung. in Xishuangbanna We use cultural diplomacy economic diplomacy focusing on ethnic groups such as the Tai Lue in Xishuangbanna which uses the Tai-Kadai language Communicate enough to understand each other in some words, some sentences. It is considered a kinship like Thai people in the North or other zones. We have a culture and geographical closeness. This is
Ethnographic diplomacy This is also a dimension that should be promoted.Ž Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dulyapak said. Before moving on to the issue of strategic and military relations between China and Thailand that are not far apart
In the military, we’re pretty close overall. Collaboration, such as submarines Weapons, weapons, things, so it’s something to keep an eye on. What will the relationship in arms and maneuvers look like? But I noted that The United States will probably be watching this relationship as wellŽ”
It is a wonderful view of the new era when the leaves are in bloom. as well as the recovery of the world Including the visits between Chinese and Thai people. Siblings who are never far away in a relationship
