*The pressure to choose—for China or for the U.S.—is real. But equally real is Thailand’s strategic instinct not to have to choose. Instead of submitting to one side, Thailand refines the game of controlled ambiguity: dialogue with Beijing, exercises with Washington, trade with both—and commitments to neither.

This art of balance is no accident but the result of decades of experience, cultural self-assertion, and political resilience. It reflects a deep historical consciousness: Thailand was never a colony—and it won’t become one in the new century, neither politically nor economically.

But neutrality is no guarantee. In a world where great powers decouple, alliances crumble, and economic blocs harden, the position of mediators becomes more precarious. History offers little comfort: neutrals often find themselves crushed not despite their refusal to choose, but because of it. Sweden’s neutrality collapsed when security imperatives overrode centuries of tradition. Switzerland’s banking secrecy crumbled under coordinated pressure. Thailand’s economic dependencies may prove even less defensible than these historical precedents. Those who claim the middle must remain vigilant, active, and flexible—or become a playing piece rather than a gamemaker.*

Thailand Shows the West Has Already Lost Southeast Asia | Geopolitical Monitor https://share.google/gzBt0GinfzW3keThb