BANGKOK, Thailand — Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn is set to arrive in Beijing on Thursday for a historic state visit — the first ever by a reigning Thai monarch — marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
The visit, made at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, underscores the deepening relationship between Bangkok and Beijing, which has grown increasingly close despite Thailand’s longstanding military alliance with the United States.
In a statement, the Thai government said the trip “underlines the deep-rooted friendship and mutual understanding shared between Thailand and China at all levels.”
During his stay in Beijing, King Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida will visit several cultural and technological landmarks, including the Lingguang Buddhist Temple and Beijing Aerospace City. President Xi and First Lady Peng Liyuan are expected to host a state banquet in their honour.
China remains Thailand’s largest trading partner, and in recent years, the two nations have expanded cooperation in areas ranging from infrastructure and defence to education and tourism. Beijing is now emerging as a key supplier of military hardware to Bangkok, increasingly rivalling the United States in influence.
Analysts note that the royal visit comes at a time of shifting geopolitical dynamics. Relations between Bangkok and Washington have cooled, strained by U.S. criticism of Thailand’s human rights record, trade tariffs imposed under former U.S. President Donald Trump, and concerns over waning U.S. engagement in Southeast Asia.
In contrast, Beijing has steadily courted Thailand through trade, investment, and cultural diplomacy. Many Thais trace their ancestry to Chinese migrants, a bond that the Chinese government often describes as “brotherly” or “family” relations.
However, the growing closeness has not been without controversy. Earlier this year, Thai authorities deported 40 Uyghur asylum seekers back to China despite international protests, including warnings from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
In August, an exhibition in Bangkok featuring Uyghur and Tibetan artists was censored following complaints from Chinese diplomats.
China has also reportedly pressured Bangkok to act against scam compounds along the Thai-Myanmar border and objected to proposals such as the legalisation of casinos in Thailand.
The visit marks King Vajiralongkorn’s first major state trip since ascending the throne nine years ago. His only previous official overseas visit was to Bhutan earlier this year.
Diplomatic ties between Thailand and China were severed in 1949 after the Chinese Communist Party took power, but relations were restored in the 1970s, aided by sustained cultural exchanges.
The King’s sister, Princess Sirindhorn, has played a key role in nurturing these ties through her decades-long study of Chinese language and art.
Observers view the King’s visit as a symbolic reaffirmation of Thailand’s growing tilt toward Beijing — and a sign of the changing balance of power in Southeast Asia.
