Experts on foreign relations have suggested the Pheu Thai-led government seek global cooperation on a broad front rather than focusing on trade and the economy.
Jittiphat Poonkham, director of Thammasat University's International Studies Programme at the Faculty of Political Science, said Pheu Thai, which is overseeing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is known for its interest in economic policies.
That's why he was afraid that new foreign policies would be business-oriented rather than focused on foreign issues as such.
Mr Jittiphat spoke about the matter at a seminar titled on "Thai foreign policy outlook under the incoming government" at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Political Science.
The seminar suggested how the new government should promote the country. He suggested the Pheu Thai-led government should deal with political rivalry between the US and China especially in the Indo-Pacific region in a systematic way.
"Thailand should aspire to bend before the wind or against the wind by stating a clear position on this matter," he said. Sometimes Thailand might not need to agree with China, the US, the EU or other partners. But the country needs to think about mutual interests and values, he said.
Thailand should take a firm stand based on the rule of law, defend human rights and devise policies around climate change. This would hopefully position Thailand as a more responsible player on the global stage.
Sitthiphon Kruarattikan, a political science professor at Thammasat Interdisciplinary Studies College, said the Pheu Thai-led government would likely see China as an economic opportunity, rather than a strategic threat.
"So it is likely the new government would respect China's core interests. It is not much different from previous governments since 1990s which viewed Beijing as an economic opportunity rather than a threat," he added.
Mr Sitthiphon said such an approach to China could create problems for the new government, especially with its aim to revitalise Thailand's Asean leadership and establish its centrality.
"Thailand might lose its credibility in the eyes of some Asean members. Therefore, it should find a balance between economic interests and adherence to internationally accepted norms [on Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and the South China Sea]."