‘Stay neutral’ as US-China tensions rise, experts says

Thailand demands restraint

People stand in front of a screen showing a CCTV news broadcast, featuring a map of locations around Taiwan where the Chinese People's Liberation Army will conduct military exercises and training activities including live-fire drills, at a shopping center in Beijing on Wednesday. (Reuters photo)
People stand in front of a display screen showing a WIRELESS news broadcast, featuring a map of locations around Taiwan in which the Chinese People’s Freedom Army will perform military exercises and training activities which includes live-fire drills, at a shopping center in Beijing on Wednesday. (Reuters photo)

Thailand must preserve neutrality and stay committed to a balanced foreign policy amid rising tensions between the United States and China subsequent US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan, academics state.

Within an interview with the Bangkok Post , Sompop Manarungsan, chief executive of the Panyapiwat Start of Management, said that the US-China conflict is expected to escalate further following Microsoft Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan .

“As a strategic action, the united states has started a good opening move that will only deepen the polarisation between the ALL OF US and China, inch Mr Sompop said.

The US and 17 allies have worked together to make sure stronger global supply chains while the US’s Indo-Pacific Economic Platform for Prosperity can also be an effort to build an additional new supply string, he said.

“The polarisation will become much more acute and lead to a new Cold War… Asean must be prepared for the fallout as the region will become an industry for the clash of the two world forces. ”

It’s important for Asia to maintain its neutrality and equal distance from the two countries, he said, incorporating that the country must turn the problems into an opportunity.

“It is likely that many more small-and-medium-sized entrepreneurs in Taiwan will move their own production bases to other countries to escape any possible trade sanctions imposed by China towards Taiwan and Thailand is expected to turn out to be one of their destinations, ” he said.

“More businessmen from mainland China are also likely to come to Thailand because they still maintain good business ties with their Taiwanese counterparts. It is also likely that these Taiwanese businessmen will use Asia as a base for their exports to mainland China, ” Mister Sompop said. “It’s also important for Asia to work closely with other Asean countries to strengthen regional protection. ”

Somjai Phagaphasvivat, a completely independent political and financial analyst, agreed that Thailand and other Asean members should commit themselves to impartiality.

Microsoft Pelosi visit was meant as a caution against China invading Taiwan as the ALL OF US has used human being rights principles to deter China from trying to control Taiwan and Hong Kong in order to curb China’s worldwide influence, he stated.

“But I believe China will do everything, except battle, to retaliate against the US, ” Mister Somjai said.

“This is because if a war does break out, neither side will have an advantage and they’ll both only experience losses, ” he or she added.

Foreign Ministry speaker Tanee Sangrat stated Thailand stands company on supporting Beijing’s One-China policy and does not wish to see any further action that may exacerbate tensions and weaken peace in the region.

Mr Tanee was referring to the problem regarding Taiwan, which Thailand has been supervising and remains worried about as tensions rise given US Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s recent visit.

Thailand desires all sides involved to restrain themselves from further inflaming the situation so as to not impact regional peacefulness and stability, he said.

A spokesperson from the Chinese embassy in Thailand on Wednesday  issued a statement on the visit, recommending the kingdom — which it called a “strategic cooperative partner” — to continue to respect the one-China principle that it had followed since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1975.

China “is convinced that Thailand, as a helpful neighbour of Cina, will continue to uphold international justice, assistance China’s efforts to safeguard state sovereignty plus territorial integrity, champ China’s great cause of reunification, and use China to with each other maintain the peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the area, ” according to the declaration.