BEIJING – King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand arrived in China on Wednesday,marking the first-ever visit to the country by a reigning Thai monarch. The historic trip comes at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping to commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations established between Thailand and China in 1975.
The visit underscores the strengthening ties between the two nations, a relationship China has reportedly sought to elevate with a royal visit for several years. The thai government affirmed the journey “underlines the deep-rooted friendship and mutual understanding shared between Thailand and China at all levels.”
During their time in Beijing, King Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida are scheduled to visit landmarks including the Lingguang Buddhist Temple and the Beijing Aerospace City. president Xi and his wife will host a state banquet in their honor.
This marks King Vajiralongkorn’s first major state visit since ascending the throne nine years ago,following a trip to Bhutan in April. The visit represents a shift in diplomatic focus for Thailand, historically a close ally of the United States. While remaining officially aligned with the US military, Thailand’s economic and political ties with China have grown considerably in recent years, even as relations with Washington have experienced strain due to human rights concerns, trade policies, and perceptions of waning US commitment to the region.
China is currently Thailand’s largest trading partner and an increasing supplier of military equipment. The close relationship is also rooted in cultural connections, as many Thais trace their ancestry to Chinese migrants, a connection frequently emphasized by the Chinese government as a basis for “brotherly” relations.
Recent examples of China’s influence include Thailand’s deportation of 40 Uyghur asylum-seekers earlier this year, despite warnings from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and censorship of an art exhibition featuring Uyghur and Tibetan artists following complaints from Chinese diplomats. Thai authorities have also responded to Chinese pressure by cracking down on scam compounds near the Myanmar border and are believed to have considered Chinese objections when evaluating proposals to legalize casinos.
Despite this being the first visit by a Thai monarch, the Thai monarchy has long fostered Thai-Chinese relations, notably through Princess Sirindhorn, the King’s sister, who has studied Chinese art and language for 45 years and is a frequent visitor to China.
