 | |
 China |  Thailand |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic mission | |
| Embassy of China, Bangkok | Royal Thai Embassy, Beijing |
| Envoy | |
| Chargé d'AffairesWu Zhiwu | AmbassadorChatchai Viriyavejakul |
Official diplomatic relations between thePeople's Republic of China (PRC) andThailand began in July 1975 after years of negotiations.[1][2] Historically, Thailand had good relations with governments in China; however, afterPlaek Phibunsongkhram attempted to erase and prohibit Chinese culture and influence in the country, relations with theRepublic of China were damaged. In modern times, the PRC has significant influence in Thailand.[3][4][5][6][7]
Sino-Thai relations date back to as late as the early 15th century, when theMing treasure voyages ofZheng He stopped inAyutthaya Thailand. Despite the Chinese support ofMalacca, a rival of Thailand, the Thai were still considered one of the more loyalChinese tributaries; whenJapaninvaded Korea, the Thai offered to invade Japan for the Chinese.[citation needed] The relations between the two countries continued into theQing period. In the 1760s, theQing invasions of Burma alleviated the Burmese pressure on Thailand. Imports ofThai rice helped sustain the Qing Chinese population, while theThai Chinese wielded significant influence over the political affairs of early modern Thailand.[citation needed]
In 1932,Siam's People's Party overthrew the absolute monarchy and established a constitutional monarchy.[8]: 138 It intensified assimilationist policies towards the Chinese community in Siam.[8]: 138 From 1938 to 1939, it passed a series of laws to eliminate the economic influence of Chinese people, including prohibiting Chinese from certain professions, dealing in certain goods, and living in specified residential areas.[8]: 138–139 The country'sNationality Law was amended in 1939 to require that all Chinese seeking to become citizens had to adopt Thai names, enroll their children in Thai schools, speak Thai, and renounce any allegiance to China.[8]: 139
During World War II, Thailand further restricted the political activities of Chinese.[8]: 139 In 1943, Thailand prohibited Chinese people from purchasing land.[8]: 139
After theestablishment of the People's Republic of China, Thailand imposed immigration quotas that virtually prohibited immigration to Thailand from the PRC.[8]: 139 During theKorean War,Thai forces under theUnited Nations Command fought the PRC'sPeople's Volunteer Army in multiple battles.[9] After 1955, Thailand began easing its naturalization policies.[8]: 139
UnderThai Prime MinisterPlaek Phibunsongkhram, relations with the Chinese were tense during theCold War. However, Phibunsongkhram sent the children of his advisorSang Phathanothai to live in China as a goodwill gesture and for informal backdoor diplomacy. The bookThe Dragon's Pearl by Phathanothai's daughter Sirin recounts her experience in growing up during theCultural Revolution in China. Thailand supportedPrince Boun Oum's government while theMaoist government backing of China supportedPrince Souphanouvong and the communist movement ofPathet Lao withMarxist-Leninist roots that inspired byChairman Mao which was funded by theChinese Communist Party. In Cambodia, underSihanouk's government, the revolutionaryPol Pot (Saloth Sar) secretly formed an infamousKhmer Rouge which will later become the dictator of hisfour-year reign of terror of what will be known asYear Zero from 1975 to 1979.[citation needed]
In June 1963,Thai KingBhumibol and his wife,Sirikit, visitedTaipei in theRepublic of China (ROC). In 1969,Minister of National DefenseChiang Ching-kuo visitedBangkok as a special envoy of thegovernment of the Republic of China to meet with Thai King. Thailand switched diplomatic relations from to the People's Republic of China in July 1975.[10]
Until 1975, relations were of mutual suspicion, as the PRC supported left-leaning factions within the Thai political circle, and Thailand was wary of Chinese involvement withCambodian andLaotian conflicts during the civil war for the communist movements of the Khmer Rouge and Pathet Lao.[1]
Relations developed positively in 1978, when China continued to back Thailand during Cambodia's internal conflict in whichMarxist forces fromVietnam ousted the Maoist Khmer Rouge from power in early 1979 and threatened the security of Southeast Asia.[citation needed]
Relations continue to develop as trade became the dominant theme in bilateral relations.[2] Thailand continues to support theOne China Policy and maintains unofficial relations withTaiwan, which helps Thailand gain access to capital and the huge Chinese mainland market.[2] Thai-Chinese businesses are part of the largerbamboo network.[11] TheCharoen Pokphand (CP Group), a prominent Thai conglomerate founded by the Thai-ChineseChearavanont family, has been the single largest foreign investor in China.[12]
In 1994, Taiwanese leaderLee Teng-hui made a private visit to Thailand and met with Thai King to discuss projects on economic co-operation.[10]
Thai PrincessSirindhorn has received China'sMedal of Friendship andChinese Language and Culture Friendship Award for her work in promoting closer relations between the two countries. She speaks fluentMandarin Chinese and has translated several Chinese novels into Thai.[13]
Thailand adopted a policy of improving relations with China since the2014 Thai coup d'état, when relations with the West worsened.[14] In the Thai House of Representatives, concerns had been raised regarding increasing Chinese influence over the country, and some dubbed Thailand as a Chinese province, with the Chinese acquisition of land and real estate allowing China to build dams in the Mekong, and a Chinese private company to invest in the Thai high-speed rail megaproject.[15]
In 2024, Thailand and China signed a visa-waiver program that lifted the visa requirement for citizens of both nations, effective since March 1, 2024.[16]
During Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra's visit to Beijing, concerns arose over the potential deportation of 48Uyghur detainees in Thailand, despite warnings of abuse if sent back to China. The visit also focused on strengthening bilateral ties in areas like infrastructure and technology.[17]
In July 2025, officials from the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok demanded that theBangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC) censor pieces from an exhibit titled "Constellation of Complicity: Visualising the Global Machinery of Authoritarian Solidarity", which included art critical of China.[18] The BACC was forced to remove pieces by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.[19][20]
China is Thailand's top trading partner.[8]: 32 Bilateral trade relations grow each year.[21] Chinese-Thai bilateral trade in 1999 was worth US$4.22 billion.[21]That reached $25.3 billion in 2006, US$31.07 billion in 2007, and US$36.2 billion in 2008.[22] The 21st-centuryChinese transformation into amajor economic power has led to an increase of foreign investments in thebamboo network. The a network ofoverseas Chinese businesses operating in the markets of Southeast Asia shares family and cultural ties.[23][11]
China's exports to Thailand computer components, electrical motors, consumer electronics, machinery, metal products, chemicals, and clothing.[22]
Thailand's exports to China computer components, rubber, refined oil, plastic pellets, chemical electronics, crude oil, wood products, and food.[22]
China is Thailand's second-largest export market. China is also Thailand's largest importer of goods into the country in 2010.[24]
China and Thailand signed afree trade agreement 2003 that covered agricultural products.[25] It was also known as an early harvest agreement on agricultural products.[26]
In 2011, China announced its plan to invest US$1.51 billion to establish the China City Complex in Bangkok for trading in Chinese-made goods like garments, ornaments, and household items.[27]: 160
China takes advantage of theASEAN–China Free Trade Area, which came into effect January 1, 2010 and will allow its goods to be exported through ASEAN countries with zero or reducedtrade barriers.[28]
Thailand was the first country able to export freshdurian to China.[29]
On 6 June 2013, Thailand and China signed a five-year plan on strengthen their maritime cooperation.[27]: 162
The public in Thailand view China'sBelt and Road Initiative projects in the country, such as railways, positively.[8]: 34–35
In 2024 Suvarnabhumi AirportDon Mueang International Airport andChiang Mai International Airport have flight to 50Airport in China[30] Suvarnabhumi Airport new passenger route toYuncheng Zhangxiao Airport[31] new route Cargo airline toEzhou Huahu Airport Not includedSpecial administrative regions of ChinaHong Kong andMacau All year 2024 Only Suvarnabhumi Airport have flight 42Airport in China and OnlyDon Mueang International Airport have flight to 27Airport in China Not includedSpecial administrative regions of China
TheDon Mueang International Airport and the Suvarnabhumi Airport go to the same 20 airports in China.[citation needed]
In 2024Don Mueang International Airport have flight toTianjin Binhai International Airport[32]Yichang Sanxia Airport[33]Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport[34]Huangshan Tunxi International Airport[35]Yangzhou Taizhou International Airport[36][37]Sanya Phoenix International Airport[38] and new passenger route toHarbin Taiping International Airport[39] Seven Airport unable to travel bySuvarnabhumi Airport
In 2024,Chiang Mai International Airport have flight toXishuangbanna Gasa International Airport[40] One airport is unable to travel bySuvarnabhumi Airport andDon Mueang International Airport.[citation needed]
In 2024, Chiang Saen Port havePassenger Ship andCargo Shipone port to China betweenChiang Saen district (Chiang san port) and Guan lei port (关累港)Mengla County China.[41]Chishui Port haveCargo Ship by Ningtong 336 ship go toBangkok Port[42]
In November 2015, Thailand and China held joint air exercises.[27]: 167
Thai Prime MinisterPrayuth Chan-ocha ordered 49 ChineseVT-4main battle tanks and 3 submarines, which cost more than US$1 billion.[43][44]
China and Thailand agreed to open a joint commercial arms factory inKhon Kaen.[43] It will be responsible for the assembly, production, and maintenance of land weapon systems for theRoyal Thai Army. Specific details were subject to further discussions between the ministry andNorinco, which makes tanks, weapons, and other heavy equipment.[citation needed]
In May 2017, theRoyal Thai Navy signed a contract with theChina Shipbuilding Industry Corporation for a S26T diesel-electric submarine, which is derived from theType 039A submarine.[44] The submarine is expected to be delivered in 2023.[44] Chinese Military Commentator Zhou Chenming stated that China will also likely provide technical guidance to Thailand.[44]
In March to April of 2025, the Royal Thai Navy and People's Liberation Army Navy conducted the Blue Strike-2025 joint exercises inZhanjiang.[45][46]
In 2006, Thailand'sMinistry of Education signed an agreement withHanban to promote Chinese language education in Thailand.[8]: 63 Thailand is one of the biggest promoters of Chinese language education in southeast Asia.[8]: 62 In 2009, China and Thailand signed an agreement on education cooperation.[8]: 63
Thailand was one of the first countries in southeast Asia to open aConfucius Institute.[8]: 63 As of 2024, it has 16 Confucius Institutes, the most of any country in Asia.[8]: 63
China built the Sirindhorn Chinese Language and Culture Center at Mae Fah Luang University in Thailand as a gift.[8]: 61 It was named afterPrincess Sirindhorn in honor of her role in cultural exchange between Thailand and China.[8]: 61 The center hosts a Confucius Institute, which is operated in partnership withXiamen University.[8]: 61
In 2012, China established a cultural center in Bangkok, Thailand.[8]: 64 It is the largest cultural center established by China in southeast Asia.[8]: 64
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