(Bangkok Peng Bodian) Thailand has long been a traditional American allies, but in recent years, Thailand has begun to adjust diplomatic and military strategies. It no longer relies on the United States as before, but also actively establishes defense connections with China, including holding joint military exercises and joint military exercises andExpand the purchase of Huajun.
Thailand Prime Minister Bayu signed a new National Defense Alliance Treaty with US Secretary of Defense Esper last month. Esper still praised Thailand to face the agreement when Thailand faced external coercion and threats (meaning China).One hour, Wei Fenghe, the Chinese Defense Minister of Pakistani, signed a defense cooperation agreement and promised to support the China Belt and Road Initiative.The caters of Bayu's categories highlight Thailand's extremely valued relations with China.
Bayu launched a military coup in 2014, leading to deterioration of US -Thailand relations.China seized good opportunities and quickly strengthened Sino -Thailand cooperation. The two countries not only held joint military exercises, but also signed 10 major military purchase agreements.In the agreement, including Thailand's largest military purchase case so far, Thailand will cost 1.03 billion US dollars (about 1.4 billion yuan) to buy three firewood submarines and 48 combat tanks from China.
Some military backup prices in China are cheaper than the United States
Thailand's annual defense expenditure is about $ 7.7 billion, and the price of certain military reserve in China will be cheaper than the United States.
After Thailand held an election in March, the US government began to take action to repair the relationship with Thailand.US Secretary of State Pompeo visited Bangkok in August and praised Thailand to return to the embrace of democracy.The U.S. State Department actively sells American weapons to Thailand.
Bernardis, a spokesman for the US Embassy in Bangkok, said: We are different from China and Russia. Our defense sales are mainly managed through a policy program. This procedure is clear and transparent, and the approval is public.
She added that competitors' weapons and aid projects rarely achieve the effect of publicity, but will cause buyers to fall into debt because they cannot operate systems.
According to the Meitai military sales plan, Thailand will receive 70 Stryker armored vehicles at the end of this month, and intends to purchase 50 more.The Thai military also said in September this year that it will spend $ 138 million to buy eight AH-6i light attack reconnaissance helicopters from the United States.
The US -China competition in Thailand expands to military exercises
In recent years, the competition between the United States and China in Thailand has also expanded to military exercises.The Golden Cobra exercise led by the United States, the largest military exercise in Asia, continued to be held in Thailand.At the same time, the number of co -army players in Thailand and China is the most among Southeast Asian countries.
In response to the cooperation with China and the United States with both princes in Thailand, the Ministry of Defense Policy and Planning Division, Rolfmgeng, told the media at the side of the Asian Fine Regional Defense Ministers Conference.We must be friendly to every country hell; hellip; we are a small country, we cannot choose friends.
