Thailand should improve its standard of democracy and human rights during the leadership of US President-elect Joe Biden and a likely continued trade war with China, a panel was told yesterday.
Prapee Apichatsakol, a political science lecturer at Srinakharinwirot University and vice president of the American Studies Association in Thailand, said US-China relations have now reached "the point of no return" after they soured during President Donald Trump's yet-to-end administration.
"Mr Biden will continue the trade war and the Indo-Pacific strategy, though in a subtle manner. For example, the US contained the rise of China through its international coalition during the Cold War and the era of George H W Bush," she told the forum.
Asst Prof Prapee said the US will use the "Buy American" campaign, a watered-down version of Mr Trump's "America First" policy, and its democratic values to continue the trade war with China.
"This will affect Thailand. We must ensure democracy, human rights, and labour rights after the US's suspension of preferential trade benefits by the Generalized System of Preferences," she said.
The forum was held under the theme of "A Look at New China: Challenges for Thai Media" by the Thai Journalists Association.
Asst Prof Prapee said Mr Biden, who insisted "America must lead again", will return the US to Southeast Asia once again after Mr Trump withdrew from the region, allowing China to fill the vacuum. She called on Asean to step up cooperation and determine its course rather than fall under the influence of major powers.
"Thailand excels in foreign policy. I think our 'bending with the wind' policy will prove useful," she added.
Meanwhile, Arm Tungnirun, director of the Chinese Studies Centre at Chulalongkorn University, said the US trade war with China resulted from domestic affairs, tech competition, and security.
"Globalisation has benefited the poor in China and the rich in the US, not the American middle class, prompting them to look for a scapegoat. Moreover, China now wants to be an innovator rather than a manufacturer.
Huawei and Xiaomi are challenging the US. The emergence of new technology like 5G and smartphones also threatens national security," he said. He urged Asean to beef up strategic integration to increase its leverage with major powers.