ASEAN in Thailand’s Foreign Policy under the Military Government (2014-2019): Continuity and Change

Moreover, there is also a strategic goal of foreign policy, which is to strengthen the strategic status and interests of Thailand, namely promoting good relations with neighbours and countries in Southeast Asia, promoting Thailand's creative role in driving ASEAN Community, strengthening relations with strategic countries, pushing the creative and responsible Thailand's role to be accepted by the global community, enhancing competitiveness and economic cooperation, Strengthening the image of confidence and good attitude towards Thailand, promoting the participation of all sectors and improve the quality of service to the people as well as develop the capability of the organization.

As mentioned above, it is the scope of the foreign policy direction of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs uses the said guidelines as a direction for relations with other countries. ЁШЕЄХѕ ЄФ№ЗГГві Chulacheeb Chinwanno , №вВєТВµиТ§»ГРа·Ид·ВµиН»ГРа·ИаѕЧиН№єйТ№є№бји№ґФ№гЛ­иаНаЄХВНТ¤а№Вм: ЁТЎВШ¤К§¤ГТБаВ繶֧ВШ¤ЛЕС§К§¤ГТБаВз№ ¤.И. 1947-2016 (Foreign policy of Thailand towards neighboring countries on the mainland. Southeast Asia: From the Cold War era to the Cold War period 1947-2016.), Thammasat University,2018,p. 105. (Date of access 27 March, 2020) The foreign policy in the first year (2014) is to have the relevant agencies to expedite the clarification of Thailand's political situation, focusing on explaining legitimacy for the government and creating image in various fields, including creating an understanding for the international community to understand the Thai political crisis that the government of General Prayut Chan-ocha needed a coup to resolve the political crisis. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has coordinated to deliver information about the political situation in Thailand, explained the ways and development of Thai politics to various sectors such as governments and international organizations, which was considered the first priority of foreign policy. Therefore, the conduct of Thailand's foreign policy has a form of defensive policy and accelerating good relations with other countries.

In the term of policy to intensify relations and promote cooperation with neighbouring countries and the international community, it turned to focus on the policy of increasing international economic potential to recover after the disruption of the political crisis by focusing on promoting foreign trade and investment in order to be an important factor in driving Thai economic development, including creating a favourable atmosphere for trade and foreign investment, especially the facilitation of foreign trade and investment, including important economic reforms Such as tax reform, infrastructure development, and budget disbursement.

For the policy in ASEAN, in the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Thailand at the meeting discussed international security issues such as the need to maintain the core and neutrality of ASEAN and the South China Sea. As for the 11th ASEAN Political-Security Community, Thailand took the lead in conducting the APSC Blueprint activities, such as the development of university courses on the legal system of ASEAN Member States, promoting good governance and combating corruption. For the 24th ASEAN Summit, the meeting discussed the future of ASEAN after 2015, the issue that Thailand was pushing is the creation of a community-centred, rule-based community, maintaining the core and role of ASEAN in regional architecture, dealing with issues affecting people's livelihoods within the region and cross-border issues such as human trafficking, drugs and migration. In addition, the meeting discussed the relationship of ASEAN with countries outside the region, including international issues such as climate change, natural disasters, relations between regional powers and the situation in the South China Sea. At the meeting, the ASEAN leaders adopted the Naypyidaw's Declaration on achieving ASEAN Community in 2015. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand, Report of the important operation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1 - 31 May 2014, http://www.mfa.go.th/main/contents/files/policy-20140916-133333-613951.pdf (Date of access: March 21, 2020)

The Thai government in this period had prepared for entering into the ASEAN community by seeing the integration into the ASEAN Community will greatly benefit Thailand if Thailand prepares various matters to be ready. The preparation would enhance the role and utilization of Thailand in the ASEAN Community to maximize benefits in improving the quality of life of Thais with ASEAN citizens by strengthening development policies below: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand , Thailand's policy, www.mfa.go.th/main/th/policy/50810-№вВєТВЎТГµиТ§»ГРа·И.html (Date of access: March 21, 2020)

1. accelerates the promotion of economic connectivity, trade, and investment in ASEAN and expands economic cooperation with neighboring countries by utilizing the ASEAN interconnection and transportation networks, accelerate the use of electronic certification / licensing systems for electronic transactions in ASEAN as well as support the utilization of trade and investment agreements under the effective bilateral and multilateral cooperation framework.

2. support the extension of the agreement on mutual acceptance of inspection and certification products by giving importance to products with high potential in Thailand, especially consumer products, including adjusting trade rules and customs procedures to be convenient, reduce various steps or cancel certain procedures and adjusting the tax system and other facilities to attract the establishment of a regional operating office in Bangkok in order to eventually develop Bangkok to be the centre of business, trade and investment.

3. Develop the competitiveness of Thai entrepreneurs at all levels in accordance with the move agreements on goods, services, investment, skilled labor and various production factors that are more liberalized, especially the small and medium enterprise group of Thailand in order to be able to compete. Moreover, develop Thai entrepreneurs to be able to do business with entrepreneurs in ASEAN member countries in order to connect with the global market supply chain, especially the production base of many types of products and related businesses in Thailand has long invested in expanding production bases in other countries in ASEAN as well as the production groups in which Thai entrepreneurs are prepared to expand many new production bases. This will help Thailand to have a base to produce a variety of quality products for sale in various markets, both in ASEAN and in the world market and to help neighbouring countries in the industrial development process.

4. Develop labour of the industrial sector to support the entering of ASEAN Community, particularly professional workers, skilled workers and unskilled workers by accelerating and extending the use of the professional qualification system to be effective in practice by considering the unity with the skills and professional standards system in the 8 groups that have an agreement on liberalization in ASEAN together with the planning of sufficient production, upgrading of skilled labour in potential industrial groups and labour-intensive industries as well as promoting the development of a standardized skill testing system for use in assessing labor costs.

5. Accelerate the development of connectivity in transportation and logistics within the sub-region and ASEAN region by accelerating the implementation of the Economic Cooperation Development Plan in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT), Ayeyawady - Chao Phraya - Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and the Master Plan on ASEAN Linkages, which will help to achieve concrete linkages in transportation and logistics in ASEAN.

6. Connect the transportation and logistic systems from the production base in the community to the processing area in order to increase the value domestically and connect with ASEAN to upgrade the potential of the small entrepreneurs to a wider market, both domestically and internationally, and at the same time helping to create economic opportunities for areas within the country.

7. Develop special economic zones, starting with the development of border trade checkpoints and transportation networks in the main trade gates of the country to support cross-border production and investment by continuously improving the road network, developing the National Single Window (NSW) system and continuously developing commercial and cross-border transportation facilities. In the first phase, focus on 6 important border checkpoints, such as Padang Besar, Sadao, Aranyaprathet, Mae Sot, Baan Khlong Luek and Ban Khlong Yai, which will make transportation and logistics systems able to connect with neighbouring countries efficiently and support the amount of travel and transportation that is expected to increase from entering the ASEAN Community. Ibid.

However, Thailand after entered to ASEAN Community, still need to work hard to contribute regional integration in developing its economy.

The 20-Year National Strategy.

Moreover, in 2015, the military government also announced the 20-Year National Strategy, the goal of the national strategy is to set the framework and development guidelines for all government agencies to follow and to achieve the vision within the year 2037. Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Kingdom of Thailand, 20 years-plan on foreign affairs //http://www.mfa.go.th/main/contents/files/policy-20190111-114336-037494.pdf (Date of access: March 21, 2020) It is the first time that Thailand has a country development plan that has been framed for 20 years, with the enforcement period from 2017-2036. Due to the political turmoil of Thailand for a long time, this military government wants to create a single pattern for the next governments. All governments, committees and government agencies in the future have to follow the national strategy from policy levels, annual budgets and plans. The National Strategic Planning Act 2017 clearly states in Article 5 that “Every state agency has a duty to achieve the goals set out in the national strategy. The determination of the government administration policy of the Cabinet prior to entering the administration of the government, the preparation of the National Economic and Social Development Plan, the national policy and plan for national security and any other plans, including the preparation of the annual budget plan must be consistent with the national strategy.” and “It is the duty of the Cabinet to supervise and support all government agencies to take action” in accordance with the national strategy.Sarinee Achavanuntakul, National strategy or battle for sales dreams? Some observations on '20 year national strategy', https://www.the101.world/strategic-plan-or-pipe-dream/ (Date of access: March 21, 2020)

The 20-year national strategy document, as of May 2018, is divided into 6 areas as follows: Office of the National Economics and Social Development Council, NATIONAL STRATEGY 2018 - 2037, http://nscr.nesdb.go.th/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/National-Strategy-Eng-Final-25-OCT-2019.pdf (Date of access: March 21, 2020)

1. Security Strategy.

2. Strategies for creating competitiveness.

3. Strategy for human development and capacity building.

4. Strategies for creating equal opportunities and social equality.

5. Strategy for creating growth on a quality of life that is environmentally friendly.

6. Strategy for balancing and developing the public management system.

There are also master plans under the national strategy on foreign affairs, the military government predicts that in the next 20 years, the environment both inside and outside the country will change dramatically and rapidly, such as the presence of many powers in the region, which are external factors that can benefit Thailand because it will help prevent a situation where the region will have only one major power with absolute power in the region. However, the number and complexity of the interests of the greater powers in the world may give Thailand the challenge to implement a balanced foreign policy in general between the various powers. Therefore, in order to ensure stability and security, Thailand, as a medium-sized country, must maintain a balance between the superpowers based on national interests and international principles. In addition, Asia is increasingly strategically important, it is the location of a superpower / cooperative group that has power and a role in security and economy. It is the region with the fastest economic growth and plays an important role in the global economic supply chain and is an important sea transportation route in the world. On the other hand, this region is vulnerable to regional stability and is at risk of military encounters. The expansion of the influence of the superpowers in the region, including the conflict in the region that is like a war between the superpowers may create pressure on Thailand to choose the side, therefore, it is a major challenge to implementing a balanced foreign policy strategically. Kamoltip Linitda, The Role of the superpowers: China and America affected with cooperation and integrationin the ASEAN Region, Veridian E-Journal, Silpakorn University: 2016, p.370

Considering the international economic competition, the Thai military government predicts that the economic globalization of free trade and the connection of both transportation and technology has led to intense competition for exports and attracting foreign investment, there are new economic groups joining together to promote trade and investment between them. For example, the economic integration of ASEAN has led to trade, investment and services among ASEAN member countries themselves. Since ASEAN has a combined population of over 600 million people and is likely to increase continuously, It is expected that in 2050, ASEAN will be the 4th largest economy in the world, surpassing Japan and the European Union, second only to China, India and the United States. David Wijeratne, How to keep the ASEAN economies growing for another 50 years, https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/09/to-keep-growing-aseans-economy-must-adapt-heres-how/, (Date of access: March 21, 2020) Countries in the Asia-Pacific region have also attempted to enter into other economic agreements/cooperation, they are also more likely to establish bilateral trade agreements to promote trade opportunities and open new markets.

The Thai military sees the strength of Thai foreign affairs is that Thailand is a neutral country, always be compatible with all parties and has a strong diplomacy history because Thai diplomacy always gives practical guidelines or is consistent with reality, being flexibility and pragmatism and this is an important factor that helps maintain independence and national sovereignty for a long time. Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Shifting Thai alliances in the 21st century, https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1290939/shifting-thai-alliances-in-the-21st-century (Date of access: March 25, 2020) In addition, Thailand has a diplomatic role that focuses on regional cooperation by being the driving force for the establishment of ASEAN and other regional and sub-regional cooperation frameworks as well as being responsible for the international community, having creative attitude and principles in the UN framework continuously.

Meanwhile, Thailand is the centre of the regional office of the United Nations, as well as the geographic location of Thailand, which has a strategic location that borders Thailand with its neighbours in the ASEAN region and is at the centre of the region. It is also a connection point between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, so Thailand has the potential to be one of the centres of trade, investment, transportation and logistics in Asia. Thailand is also an important link in the region, including being an important gateway to Asia. Although Thailand currently has some infrastructure to support transportation in various fields, the Thai government is still required to develop its logistics capabilities and build additional transportation systems to enhance the country's economic competitiveness.

Therefore, Thailand's Foreign Policy in the future sees ASEAN and the region as a tool that will make Thailand progress and be the centre of many aspects. Thailand's foreign policy will focus on: Office of the National Economics and Social Development Council, NATIONAL STRATEGY 2018 - 2037, http://nscr.nesdb.go.th/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/National-Strategy-Eng-Final-25-OCT-2019.pdf, p.8. (Date of access: March 21, 2020)

1. Strengthen cooperation with foreign countries to drive the economy based on innovation to develop production and service sectors that will lead to increasing Thailand's competitiveness and making Thailand one of the trade and investment centres of Asia.

2. Develop Thailand's transportation and logistics infrastructure to make Thailand one of the key distribution centres in the region and a gateway to important Asian countries, as well as developing relevant regulations to promote Thai products and industries into the world value chain

3. Promote international economic cooperation, which aims to spread more prosperity and economic opportunities to different regions of Thailand more thoroughly, including having an active role in promoting economic cooperation in the sub-regional and regional cooperation framework, such as ASEAN, sub-regional cooperation framework: Ayeyawadi-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), Bay of Bengal Initiative Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

4. Strengthen cooperation and negotiations with friendly countries, organizations and business sectors to increase opportunities and reduce economic barriers in Thailand as well as to strengthen capacity and support the search for markets, investment sources, and new raw materials for Thai entrepreneurs abroad, as well as developing and promoting the service sector business in Thailand by focusing on strengthening the foundation of Thailand and the Thai identity in the field of services by making use of foreign knowledge in order to make Thailand one of the regional service centres, especially in areas where Thailand has advantages.

In conclusion, Thailand's foreign policy and its the 20-Year National Strategy under the military government has visions that Thailand must be one of the major trading, investment, services and connections centres in the Asian region, with an improved economy that focuses on innovation. Thailand must be a sustainable development partner with foreign countries in order to achieve the world's sustainable development goals. Thailand must develop in line with international standards in all dimensions and be able to play a more proactive role in setting up international standards. Thailand must have more prestige, negotiation power and international recognition. Every sector must contribute to unite to drive foreign affairs, and Thailand must be more cooperation partners with foreign countries in every dimension. Still, there are many questions that this plan will exactly become a permanent strategy of Thailand's foreign policy or not because Thailand always faced with a political crisis and changed inside the country throughout many years, as well as external factors such as the change of global situation may affect its strategy and become obsoleted. Ibid, p.16.

After Thailand had been under the military government for many years, western countries and European Union began to accept the Thai military government and countinue its relations with Thailand such as the US in the late of Obama's administration, started to accept the military government and continue its international relation with Thailand again because the US government doesn't want to lose its ally in Southeast Asia to China, the military government immediately responded to the US intention and back to have activities with the US like it had as before, the relations between the two countries continue to improve under the Trump administration, the Thai Prime Minister visited to Washington in October in 2017 marked a significant upgrading of his regime's international standing. Pongphisoot Busbarat, Shopping Diplomacy: The Thai Prime Minister's Visit to the United States and its Implications for Thai-US Relations // https://www.iseas.edu.sg/images/pdf/ISEAS_Perspective_2017_78.pdf (Date of access: March 21, 2020) Althought the US-Thailand relations has improved, Thailand still balances its relations with China as before and still uses ASEAN to as a priority to achieve its national interests.

3.2 Thailand's ASEAN Chairmanship in 2019: Topics and Decisions

The ASEAN Chair is the highest position of the ASEAN Summit in which the leaders of the ASEAN countries will rotate their duties each year. In 2019, Thailand took on the role of ASEAN Chair after Singapore, with Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha and the Head of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO: Thailand's coup group) officially receiving the ASEAN Chairmanship from the Prime Minister of Singapore at the end of the 33rd ASEAN Leadership Summit on 15^th November 2018. thaipbsworld, Thailand takes over ASEAN chairmanship from Singapore, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-takes-over-asean-chairmanship-from-singapore/ (Date of access: March 21, 2020)

On the occasion of assuming the position of ASEAN Chair of Thailand, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister, announced the main idea of ??becoming an ASEAN Chair: “Advancing Partnership for Sustainability” in pushing and promoting issues that will benefit both ASEAN and Thailand, including accelerating the implementation of various international measures under the AEC Blueprint 2025 to progress forward and will continue the issues that ASEAN President Singapore has taken.

The three main concepts that Thailand emphasized and drove ASEAN during the period of Thailand's chairmanship were: ASEAN-Thailand Secretariat, Thailand's ASEAN Chairmanship, https://www.asean2019.go.th/en/abouts/key-concepts/ (Date of access: March 21, 2020)

1. “Advancing” means looking and moving forward with the future dynamically, leveraging technological evolution from the 4th Industrial Revolution and creating competitiveness along with building the immune system from disruptive technologies and challenges in the future to achieve the strategic goals of having a digital ASEAN.

2. “Partnership” means to create partnerships within ASEAN and with the international community as well as with dialogue partners countries, with an important strategic goal of creating a seamless ASEAN.

3. “Sustainability” means to create sustainability in all dimensions, whether it is sustainable security or sustainability for economic growth, including green economy, sustainable development and sustainability of human security.

The ASEAN summit and related meetings that had taken place in Thailand between 31th October - 4th November 2019 have been accomplished, along with the appreciation from many countries around the world from achievements achieved among ASEAN members and with the main counterparty countries that attended the meeting. During the 5 days of the meeting, 15 important documents (Declarations and Agreements) were certified, there were more than 13 statements of the President of the meeting, 18 documents of acknowledgment of progress, which was the achievement of the essence. There was another success, in this period, more tens of thousands of leaders, government employees, businessmen and the media also came to Thailand. Throughout 2019, Thailand had hosted more than 176 ASEAN meetings, and if all other related meetings are counted, there should be more than 300 meetings in every region throughout Thailand. The economic rotation along with the dissemination of the image of a good host atmosphere in Thailand has been spread throughout the world.

There are 5 achievements of ASEAN meetings under Thailand's chairmanship of ASEAN in 2019: Piti Srisangnam ,the achievements for ASEAN in 2019, https://www.the101.world/the-success-of-asean-2019/ (Date of access: March 21, 2020)

1. Making ASEAN agreements come true by establishing 7 ASEAN centers.

In the past, ASEAN has been criticized as a forum for discussing the signing of the agreement but does not have tangible results. Thailand, as the president, has made those agreements tangible, with permanent agencies, budgets and human resources for the benefit of Thai and ASEAN people, which all 7 centers are:

(1) ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Centre: AJCCBC, launched in 2018 to prepare for threats in the world industry 4.0 era that comes through the internet.

(2) Disaster Emergency Logistics System for ASEAN: DELSA, which is a warehouse for rescue equipment, a large survival warehouse located in Chainat Province, Thailand that is ready to be brought out to alleviate the suffering of ASEAN people in times of disaster.

(3) ASEAN Center of Military Medicine: ACMM, in addition to relief items, Thailand also prepares medical personnel to help ASEAN people in the most distressed conditions.

(4) ASEAN Cultural Center, aims to give ASEAN people the opportunity to learn more about the various social, cultural, and cultural differences between themselves. If businessman who wants to sell products and services to a market size of 650 million people in 10 Southeast Asian countries, the ASEAN Cultural Center will benefit because people can learn what ASEAN people are eating, what they use, how they decide to buy products and services because the most important factor determining these decisions is society, culture, traditions, and religion. The Nation, Bangkok launches the brand new Asean Cultural Centre, https://www.nationthailand.com/art/30266169 (Date of access: March 21, 2020)

(5) ASEAN Centre for Active Ageing and Innovation: ACAI. In 2020, Thailand will enter an aged society and will lack labour as well as it will need welfare and innovation systems for the elderly. Therefore, setting up this center in order to exchange knowledge from previous experiences in the aged society, especially Singapore, is absolutely necessary.

(6) ASEAN Training Centre for Social Work and Social Welfare: ATCSW

(7) ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue: ACSDSD.

2. Child and Youth Rights.

On the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) at the ASEAN summit from 10 countries, 4 documents were issued to confirm the protection of the rights of children and youth, which all 4 documents are:

(1) Joint Statement on Reaffirmation of Commitment to Advancing the Rights of the Child in ASEAN.

(2) ASEAN Declaration on the Rights of Children in the Context of Migration.

(3) Declaration on the Protection of Children from all Forms of Online Exploitation and Abuse in ASEAN.

(4) Bangkok Declaration on Advancing Partnership in Education for 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in ASEAN.

3. Sustainable development

All countries around the world have agreed that by 2030, sustainable development goals must be achieved. For this purpose, ASEAN has prepared and created cooperation between the Member States to move towards this goal. The important ASEAN documents that arose from Thailand's push as chair of ASEAN meetings throughout the year 2019 include: National News Bureau of Thailand, Thailand tops UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) rank in ASEAN, https://www.thailand-business-news.com/asean/73993-thailand-tops-un-sustainable-development-goals-sdgs-rank-in-asean.html (Date of access: March 21, 2020).

(1) ASEAN Framework of Action on Marine Debris, because almost all ASEAN countries are near the ocean and in the case of Laos PDR, the Mekong River also flows into the ocean. Therefore, marine waste is linked to all countries, solving problems by one country is not enough and need to cooperate at the regional level.

(2) Chiang Mai Statement of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting Related to Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) about the responsible for CITES and Wildlife Enforcement on Illegal Wildlife Trade, just like the marine waste, solving problems by one country is not enough, because if people still want to buy, then people are at risk to smuggle wildlife, so it have to work together at the regional level.

(3) ASEAN Declaration on Industrial Transformation to Industry 4.0.

(4) ASEAN Leaders' Declaration on ASEAN Vaccine Security and Self-Reliance (AVSSR).

(5) ASEAN Joint Statement on Climate Change to the 25th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP25).

(6) East Asia Summit Leaders' Statement on Partnership for Sustainability.

(7) Bangkok Declaration on Advancing Partnership in Education for 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in ASEAN.

4. ASEAN positioning at the center of the Indo-Pacific strategy.

From the 34th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok in June 2019, documenting ASEAN's views on ideas ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP) was established in order to confirm the position of the ASEAN community in the midst of expanding the influence of both economic and security into Southeast Asia, which is the connection point of Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean. Bhubhindar Singh, Tsjeng Zhizhao Henrick, ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific: Seizing the Narrative?, https://www.rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publication/idss/asean-outlook-on-indo-pacific-seizing-the-narrative/ (Date of access: March 21, 2020)

The ASEAN Community clearly defines the position in protecting the interests of ASEAN and its member countries by confirming the important principles of the ASEAN Centrality in driving various policies through the architecture that ASEAN has created, such as the East Asia Summit between ASEAN member countries and 8 other key dialogue partners including China, Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, India, Russia and U.S. , the security forum includes the ASEAN Regional Forum between ASEAN and 17 other countries around the world, the ASEAN Defense Minister Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) and other regional forums.

Documents about the ASEAN perspective on concepts of Indo-Pacific which has been signed by all 10 ASEAN leaders, is important to demonstrate the success of Thailand in being the ASEAN Chair this year because in the first draft of this document, there were still some members who do not agree with the determination of the attitude in the said way (This is because each member country is very close to each other in different forms of superpowers). but ultimately, with the work of the Thai side as the chair of the meeting, eventually all 10 ASEAN member states countries are able to achieve mutual determination in the midst of a dynamic economic geopolitical state. Mie Oba, ASEAN's Indo-Pacific Concept and the Great Power Challenge, https://thediplomat.com/2019/07/aseans-indo-pacific-concept-and-the-great-power-challenge/ (Date of access: March 11, 2020)

The essence of ASEAN's perspective on the concept Indo-Pacific consists of 4 parts:

(1) Maritime Cooperation: This is to confirm ASEAN's position on the determination of the Indian and Pacific Oceans as open and safe areas for all parties to seek mutual benefits by respecting the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and abiding by the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), which is of course deterrent and preventing the occurrence of disputes with the great powers that expand influence in the area.

(2) Connecting the Connectivity: Since the superpowers, including China, Japan, the United States of America, have many infrastructure development projects that want to connect the regions, ASEAN as a center of Southeast Asia, is pleased to connect with all parties whether it is shipping routes, airlines, roads, railways, gas pipelines, telecommunications systems and trade facilities regulations, ASEAN insists that all parties must create projects that are consistent with the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC), which is Thailand's work that has been in place since the last Thailand's chairmanship in ASEAN meeting in 2008-2009. Teerarat Songmuang, An Analysis of Thailand's Opportunitiesand Benefits from Rail Development Plans under the Master Plans on ASEAN Connectivity, Rangsit University, Thailand, p.1-7.

(3) ASEAN emphasizes sustainable development in line with UN's Sustainable Development Goals of 2030.

(4) Collaboration in other dimensions, which underscores the RCEP: Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

5. ASEAN can conclude RCEP agreement in the midst of a trade war.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is the success of Thailand in the year because since it had initiated cooperation in 2012, began negotiations in 2013, but negotiations could be not be concluded until it fell into the hands of Thailand as Chairman of the meeting that can be pushed to completion in 2020. RCEP is considered the largest free trade area in the world, consisting of 10 members of the ASEAN Community together with China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, covering over 48% of the world's population and 1/3 of the world economic value and 1/3 of the investment value between the countries that are circulating around the world.

As a chairman of ASEAN, Thailand has changed the negotiation architecture. In the past, the Trade Negotiation Committee (TNC) usually held meetings 2-3 times a year. However, Thailand set a new schedule for the TNC to negotiate every month, at least once a month, both formal and informal, and Thailand has laid out a roadmap that what progress must be made in each month. InfoQuest, ѕТіФЄВм ајВГБµ. RCEP №Сґ»ГРЄШБµй№БХ.¤. µСй§а»йТаЁГЁТгЛйБХўйНКГШ»г№»ЕТВ»Х№Хй бБйЛЕТВ»ГРа·ИБХаЕЧНЎµСй§/а»ЕХиВ№б»Е§ГС°єТЕ (The Ministry of Commerce revealed the RCEP minister meeting scheduled for March. Set a target negotiation for a conclusion at the end of this year. Although many countries have elections / government changes) ,https://www.ryt9.com/s/iq03/2960594 (Date of access: March 11, 2020). While the economic minister meeting of RCEP, which is an important mechanism for decision making, usually there will be a meeting once a year, sometimes 2 times a year, but under Thailand's hosted, Thailand proposed to have a ministerial meeting at least 4 times a year. Bangkokpost, RCEP deal goes down to wire, https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1786339/rcep-deal-goes-down-to-wire (Date of access: March 11, 2020).

In the last RCEP meeting of the year in Thailand, the negotiations were divided into 2 tracks, with the first being the negotiation of market access for goods and services trade, especially the issue of trade in goods to be negotiated regarding the tax reduction time frame, the amount of items to be taken, reduced and eliminated various types of trade measures. In contrast, the service sector will specify the liberalization and limitations of allowing service providers to conduct business in each member country in various ways, negotiations in this framework allowed each of the 16 member countries to negotiate in pairs in a bilateral manner. The Thai negotiating committee was led by Thailand's Department of Trade Negotiations, Ministry of Commerce, who work hard and are fully determined to protect the interests of Thailand, pushed for the negotiation of all 100% of the products traded between the 15 member countries to find all the conclusions from the meeting in this time.

The second track was the negotiation of the draft agreement, which consists of 20 chapters and the latest status is that all 15 member states have reached the conclusion of all 20 agreements, these 20 chapters will enhance relations between member countries in the region with cooperation that is modern, comprehensive, of high quality and with mutual benefits. Thailand, as the chairman of ASEAN, can find common ground and draw conclusions on all 20 difficult issues, including: (1) Initial Provisions and General Definitions (2) Trade in Goods (3) Rules of Origin, including Annex on Product Specific Rules (4) Customs Procedures and Trade Facilitation (5) Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (6) Standards, Technical Regulations and Conformity Assessment Procedures (7) Trade Remedies (8) Trade in Services, including Annexes on Financial Services, Telecommunication Services, and Professional Services (9) Movement of Natural Persons (10) Investment (11) Intellectual Property (12) Electronic Commerce (13) Competition (14) Small and Medium Enterprises (15) Economic and Technical Cooperation (16) Government Procurement (17) General Provisions and Exceptions (18) Institutional Provisions (19) Dispute Settlement (20) Final Provisions.

It can be seen that all 20 agreements are the new standard to build good relations between member countries in the Indo-Pacific region. However, India still has some issues that cannot be concluded together, which all 15 countries understand and will move forward to find a joint solution to those issues in a way that all the negotiating countries are satisfied in the next year. Phusadee Arunmas, Lamonphet Apisitniran and Pathom Sangwongwanich, RCEP nears completion, https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1791659/rcep-nears-completion wire (Date of access: April 1, 2020).

In conclusion, under Thailand's ASEAN Chairmanship in 2019, the Thai government had worked hard in emphasizing the preparation of ASEAN to the 4th industrial revolution, as a resulted, it has prepared the ASEAN Declaration “Industrial Reformation to Industry 4.0” with comprehensive cooperation focusing on the promotion of digital connectivity and the transition to Industry 4.0, that promotes startup, e-government, smart city, human resource development to support new technologies and innovations. Thailand has pushed various infrastructure projects that will connect ASEAN and link ASEAN with superpowers. Thailand has a geographical location as the centre of ASEAN. Thailand will greatly benefit from the connection of the ASEAN infrastructure and with the great powers in the region. The success of RCEP meeting will also benefit members in the region, it will make ASEAN become the centrepiece of regional economic architecture, and the world's economic centres will also move to Asia, which will be very useful in promoting trade and investment to the region and Thailand. Prapat Thepchatree, the 35th ASEAN Summit Review, http://www.drprapat.com/%e0%b8%9b%e0%b8%a3%e0%b8%b0%e0%b9%80%e0%b8%a1%e0%b8%b4%e0%b8%99%e0%b8%81%e0%b8%b2%e0%b8%a3%e0%b8%9b%e0%b8%a3%e0%b8%b0%e0%b8%8a%e0%b8%b8%e0%b8%a1%e0%b8%aa%e0%b8%b8%e0%b8%94%e0%b8%a2%e0%b8%ad%e0%b8%94/ (Date of access: April 1, 2020).

3.3 The Belt and Road Initiative Factors in Thailand's ASEAN Policy.

Thailand is a part of the China - Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor (CICPEC), which connects China with countries on the Indochina Peninsula beginning in Nanning via Vietnam, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and ending in Singapore, which makes Thailand part of the border economic region East-West Corridor by default. It is considered an economic route, transportation, and infrastructure that connects ASEAN with China. Thailand has a geographical advantage in being the centre of ASEAN both land and sea, and it can also be linked to the Eastern Economic Corridor Project (EEC) which is in line with Thailand's policies and strategies that will support Thailand as the transportation and logistics centre of ASEAN.

Source: Connecting Asia ·Тє One Belt, One Road ·Сє EEC вНЎТКГиЗБ·Т§ВШ·ёИТКµГмд·В-ЁХ№ аЄЧиНБвЕЎаЄЧиНБд·В 5 ґйТ№ https://thaipublica.org/2017/11/connecting-asia-one-belt-one-road-bbl-semina/

The success of the BRI strategy would create a linkage between large producers and consumer markets, which will give Thailand more trade and investment opportunities, especially the export of food products and services in Thailand, while Thai tourism will also expand, since Chinese tourists coming to Thailand and occupying the most number of tourists in Thailand. It would be resulting in labour migration, learning, exchange of experience in technology, society and culture. However, impacts are expected in various aspects as follows:

1) Benefits / Impacts of Belt and Road Initiative Strategies on International Countries.

The strategy, despite the risks and challenges, it is likely that many countries are ready to cooperate with China in the development of the said project. Working together will bring prosperity to the region; it promotes the economic development of each country, and create common development, and it would be a win-win sharing of benefits if China offers a fair agreement. However, even though China insists that the main goal of the new Silk Road is to promote economic, marine, science, culture, environment and international cooperation, But in reality, if the project is successful, China will be able to more effectively influence political, military, and security into the country on the Silk Road.

2) Benefits / Impact of Belt and Road Initiative Strategy on Countries in ASEAN.

The strategy can create new development opportunities for ASEAN countries, most of which are considered new economic markets by cooperating and using reasonable resources between them will be able to stimulate the country's economic development potential along the Silk Road. It also encourages the economic patnership between China and ASEAN. It can promote economic development within each country by opening channels for communication, exchange of capabilities, technology, and capital funds between them as well as being able to search for markets to increase export channels of products. In addition, from the ASEAN perspective, the BRI strategy would reduce tensions between China and the rival countries from the South China Sea dispute, showing that disputes should be separated from economic development issues. By cooperating in accordance with the BRI strategy, it will benefit the ASEAN Community and the ASEAN Economic Community in the future. However, the partnership reflects China's continued influence in the region, as countries in the region need to rely on China's economic growth inevitably.

3) Benefits / Impacts of the “One Belt One Road” Strategy on Thailand.

Under the policy to accelerate the development of the transportation infrastructure, the Thai and Chinese governments have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the development of railway infrastructure, consisting of 2 routes: 1) Nong Khai - Nakhon Ratchasima - Kaeng Khoi - Map Ta Phut Port, with a length of 734 km and 2) Kaeng Khoi - Phachi - Bang Sue route with a distance of 133 km, which is considered important cooperation that makes a benefit for both countries. It will benefit the elevation of the construction of the basic Thai transport infrastructure, as well as tourism and cultural language exchanges. In 2017, Gen. Prayut Chan-ocha had a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping, with the Prime Minister reiterating the intention of the government to deepen cooperation on strategic alliances with ChinaMinistry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping Meets with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha of Thailand, https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/t1490485.shtml, especially in the Thai-Chinese railway cooperation. The leaders of both countries witnessed the signing of the agreement between the Thai-Chinese government, consisting of 4 documents: ЎГБўиТЗ·ЛТГєЎ Department of the Thai Army News, КГШ»К¶Т№ЎТГім»ГРЁУ»Х 2017 (2017 annual situation summary), 2017, p. 225.

1) The design contract of the cooperation project between the Thai government and China in the development of high-speed rail system to connect the region between Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima Phase 1.

2) Consultation contract for construction supervision of the cooperation project between the Thai and Chinese government in the development of high-speed rail system to connect the region between Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima Phase 1.

3) Draft of Thai-Chinese Strategic Cooperation Action Plan (2017-2021).

4) Draft Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

In terms of economic benefits, Thailand is able to develop trade relations with China in a broader dimension and also benefit from seeking cooperation with other countries connected to the said route. The BRI strategy will lead to urban development along the Silk Road, which will create a new market to support a large number of Thai exports because transportation will be easier and more convenient, which Thailand should speed up the study of the potential and opportunities of the city along the Silk Road. Thailand encourages the private sector and cooperates with the private sector to develop new markets. At the same time, Thailand is also careful of the entry of some products from China that are cheaper than in Thailand, both in production, labor, and capital that is available a lot in China, may make consumers turn to use Chinese products instead of using products from Thailand.

In terms of tourism, Thailand sees that it will expand because Chinese people will be able to travel to Thailand more easily, and in the future, there will be a need to promote tourism along the route that connects the Silk Road, both in the form of publicizing proactive marketing management and more importantly, improving service provision to accommodate the number of tourists and make tourists more impressed with tourism.

Therefore, the BRI strategy is considered a strategy that is beneficial to Thailand and all parties, it is a forum for international cooperation, with China raising the level of cooperation with the major countries, neighbouring countries and developing countries with greater emphasis on responsibility in various tasks. Thailand has prepared itself to be a hub and center of ASEAN by investing money to build its transportation such as Bang Sue Grand Station, which will be the biggest train station in Southeast Asia. It is set to replace Hua Lamphong as the capital's main rail transport hub and will be operational by January 2021. This station is the terminus for all long-distance rail services from Bangkok, it has been submitted for cabinet approval in 2017 and construction began in 2018. The station will replace the existing Bang Sue Junction Railway Station and incorporate Bang Sue MRT Station. It will be the largest railway station in Southeast Asia with 171,000 m2 of total area. The 218-rai (35 hectares) area around the station will be developed as a business and commercial hub, in three zones.With 26 platforms, the Bang Sue Grand Station is poised to be the largest railway station in the ASEAN region. Replacing the current transport hub at Hua Lamphong, the project will effectively redevelop the existing Bang Sue Junction Railway Station while integrating the Bang Sue MRT Station. Due for completion in 2020, the under-construction project has triggered an inrush of transit-oriented development activities toward its environs, especially around the Thai capital's formerly Taopoon district. The expected completion of Bangsue Grand Station and railway systems will affect the demand as consumers migrate to the Taopoon-Bangsue area. The land surrounding the station has been divided into zones, which will attract new business and opportunities due to the great potential of future growth. Boris Sullivan, How Southeast Asia's largest railway station will impact Bangkok real estate, 22.03.2019,

https://www.thailand-business-news.com/real-estate/68220-how-southeast-asias-largest-railway-station-will-impact-bangkok-real-estate.html

Conclusion

The results of the study about Thailand's foreign policy founded that, since the past, it can describe that Thailand's Foreign policy is always flexible and pragmatic, Thailand is able to mitigate threats by compromising with external power and switching support from one power to balance another power when it is suited for Thailand's interests. Many scholars described its foreign policy as “Bamboo Swirling in the Wind”, such as Arne Kislenko described that Thailand foreign policy is always solidly rooted, but flexible enough to bend whichever way the wind blows in order to survive, while Pongphisoow Busbarat described that Thailand is very pragmatic in changing its alignment as important in defending the country's national interest in response to shifts in the international distribution of power.

It can be seen that Thailand's philosophical approach to international relations since the colonial period was very flexible and pragmatic, Thailand or so-called Siam at that time was a small kingdom in the region that could maintain its independence while other kingdoms were under the control of European empires. Siam compromised with Britain and France by giving up some of its territories to European powers and always tried to use diplomacy in solving disputes rather than using forces. Siam knew that its military could not compete with major powers. That made later Siam tried to adopt knowledge and values from Europe in developing the country, which made Siam at the time became one of the most developing states in Southeast Asia, with the modern military, infrastructure, and internal affairs management at the time.