Four Decades of Thailand’s foreign economic policy towards China from an International Political Economy Perspective

Abstract

          This article studies Thailand’s changing foreign economic policy (FEP) towards China from 1975 to 2015 and analyzes the International Political Economy factors that have impacted policymaking. Thailand’s FEP towards China really began in the aftermath of the establishment of official diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1975. Over the following years, Thailand’s FEP towards China expanded to include economic cooperation and the negotiations of multilateral agreements. Thailand’s overall FEP has become more oriented towards China and proactive, especially regarding trade. Recently, Thailand’s FEP has focused on undertaking concrete measures, supporting connectivity in the Southeast Asian region, and developing transportation and logistics infrastructure. Among the factors that have impacted policymaking are: the context of the international political and economic system, Thai-Chinese relations, Chinese policies, Thai national interests, domestic institutions and actors involved in policymaking, and interest groups.