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China has made big overtures to the region and the world in the last ten years, promoting both its giant infrastructure project (the Belt and Road Initiative) and its closely related development bank (the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank).
In Thailand, China’s footprint is undoubted and worrying.
Chinese tourists fill our coffers, Chinese goods populate our malls and Chinese expertise is sought by the government looking to push ahead with high speed rail and other infrastructure projects.
Beijing has made a big deal about not interfering with local affairs in its quest for hegemony, a marked contrast from the west that prefers to deal with democratic and liberal governments.
This has made Chinese capital and diplomatic favour appealing to the current Thai government which has its foundation in a military coup.
When the United States and the European Union shunned Prayut and his military cronies in the initial stages of the 2014 coup, the junta sought and received Beijing’s blessing and aid.
But the coronavirus outbreak has laid bear China’s true intent and its ability to manipulate various world organizations and its diplomatic might to get what it wants.
China is not the kind, benevolent ‘big brother’ it wants to appear to be but rather a malevolent, totalitarian government only concerned with its own interests and fully capable of carrying out zero-sum relationships.
Untrustworthy superpower
While Beijing has been trying to appear empathetic and caring during the coronavirus outbreak (they have sent aid to various countries around the world) insiders in the PRC suggest that the Chinese government is reeling from the negative press that they have received because of the pandemic.
A Chinese internal report, as revealed by Reuters, shows that the Chinese government is aware of its low popularity. According to the report, Chinese sentiment is at its lowest since the Tienanmen Square Massacre in 1989.
The report warned that in a worse-case scenario, there could be armed conflict between China and the United States.
If global sentiment is low and Chinese popularity is suffering, it is well deserved.
The United States is not alone in asking serious questions of Beijing’s response to the coronavirus. France, various members of the EU, and other countries have questioned the Chinese government on its alleged cover-up of the early stages of its outbreak.
French President Emmanuel Macron said of China’s response that, “things happened that we don’t know about.”
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has also questioned the Chinese government and wonders if the virus could have been stopped sooner.
Australia’s Foreign Minister Marise Payne has said that the country was interested in starting an independent investigation into the Chinese coronavirus response.
Payne said her country would not be bullied by “economic coercion” after China said that it would boycott Australian goods and services if the country pushed through with the investigation.
There is also of course this now famous rebuke from Germany de Bild’s Editor in Chief. De Bild is Europe’s bestselling newspaper.
It is clear in the months since the outbreak began that global health was not a real factor in China’s decisions in the early stages of the outbreak. Beijing’s immediate concern was to save face and divert blame.
The World Health Organization
It is also important to note China’s influence over the World Health Organization when talking about Chinese soft-power and how it hampered the global response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Much has already been written about Beijing’s refusal to allow Taiwan a seat at the WHO, not even as an observer.
Beijing’s obtuseness in the matter not only endangers lives within Taiwan but makes it difficult for Taiwanese expertise, Taipei has handled the virus excellently, to share their knowledge with the international community.
Beijing’s bullying of the WHO on the Taiwan issue also famously led to this episode.
‼️WOW‼️ Bruce Aylward/@WHO did an interview with HK's @rthk_news & when asked about #Taiwan he pretended not to hear the question. The journalist asks again & he hangs up!
— 😷Hong Kong World City 🖐🏻☔️ (@HKWORLDCITY) March 28, 2020
She calls back & he said "Well, we've already talked about China."
ENJOY+SHARE THE MADNESS! #CoronaVirus pic.twitter.com/jgpHRVHjNX
After the awkward interview aired, Chinese state media CCTV ran another interview with the same expert. In the interview, the WHO official said that if he had coronavirus he would want to be treated in China.
Even more malicious, Chinese influence of the WHO may have stopped the organization from releasing guidelines which could have prevented the spread of the disease.
The WHO held off on declaring a pandemic because of Chinese influence.
It also made this statement in January:
"There is no reason for measures that unnecessarily interfere with intl. travel & trade.
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) January 30, 2020
We call on all countries to implement decisions that are evidence-based & consistent. WHO stands ready to provide advice to any country that is considering which measures to take"-@DrTedros
Again, a major United Nations organization put the needs of China first rather than the needs of world health and the international community.
Where Thailand stands
These health and other geopolitical and economic considerations have made Chinese influence over Thailand problematic.
Even before the coronavirus crisis, Thailand’s economy had become too reliant on Chinese goods and tourists.
With the outbreak, we can see the economic dangers in too closely tying our economy to a source that is not reliable.
When China banned its citizens from traveling abroad to help stop the spread of Covid-19, the impact could be felt in Thailand’s GDP. Who is to say that China wont use this economic pressure to influence future governments to its point of view.
Beijing has no problem restricting the rights of its citizens and their ability to travel and Beijing has no problem using their economic might to bully lesser nations into accepting unfavorable terms.
This has already manifested itself several times in ASEAN meetings. Chinese influence over Cambodia and Laos have stopped the bloc from passing a unanimous decision to confront China over its South China Seas policies.
Beijing has also caused problems in Thailand on the upper Mekong, where Chinese dams have caused historic droughts downstream.
For more on the droughts, please read here.
Chinese media has also penetrated our news networks both conservative and liberal. From Khaosod to the Nation, Chinese editorials, exposes and state propaganda are published without any precursor.
Chinese money have paid for overseas trips for editors to visit Beijing.
For more on Chinese media’s influence over Thailand, read here.
While Thailand is undoubtedly suffering from the coronavirus outbreak and its economy is reeling from China’s shutdown, the current situation represents an opportunity for reflection.
Perhaps now, given how China continues to put its own self-interest above being a responsible member of the global community, given how Beijing pretends to be our friend while carrying out policies that adversely affect our way of life, it is time to divest ourselves from the PRC.