Caution urged amid major power tensions

Amid escalating tensions between the United States and China, experts are urging Thailand to navigate the geopolitical landscape cautiously, preserving national interests rather than following Washington’s lead.

- Mongkol Bangprapa

A forum, held recently by the International Media Club of Thailand (IMCT), highlighted China's rapid rise as a global competitor and the United States’ mounting economic vulnerabilities.

Global pressure tactics led by Washington are pushing nations in the southern hemisphere to align with China, with even India showing signs of pivoting away from its traditional US-aligned posture.

STRATEGIC INTERESTS MATTER

Thanong Khanthong, president of IMCT, said Thailand must safeguard its interests in this turbulent international landscape. “Thailand cannot afford to follow the United States blindly. Our approach must be grounded in negotiation and strategic leverage,” he said.

He referred to high-profile meetings, including the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Analysts had previously estimated the chance of nuclear escalation in Eastern Europe at nearly 50 per cent. These moves, he argued, reflect broader global calculations, with China aiming to reduce European-Russian tensions and focus on countering US economic and technological dominance.

The US motivation, he added, is not military but economic. Over two decades, Washington has shifted from cooperation to rivalry with China, deploying hybrid warfare, trade restrictions, technological competition, cyber operations, and targeted tariffs aimed at containing Beijing's growth and preserving Western dominance.

“Currently, we are witnessing an almost multidimensional war between the United States and China, encompassing hybrid warfare, trade, technology, cyber operations, and targeted tariffs specifically aimed at undermining China,” he said.

ECONOMIC PRESSURES MOUNT