Historically, Thailand’s real allies are not America and Europe
I agree with Mr A Phillips’ opinion that “America is no longer world leader” (Have Your Say, yesterday), but strongly disagree with his suggestion that Thailand should follow Europe. We should in reality follow China and Russia.
The Chinese have been coming to Thailand to trade for millennium – without ever colonising our country. The French and British, meanwhile, arrived just a few centuries ago and promptly colonised India, Indochina, Burma and Malaysia and also robbed an abysmal amount of Thailand’s land. It was Russia’s Tsar Nicholas II who saved Thailand from being colonised by Great Britain and France. I don’t mean, however, that we should follow China as an underling. We should instead treat it as a constructive partner and learn from China how to trade profitably with the West.
Prasan Stianrapapongs
Pattaya
