The purpose of this thesis is to examine how the reduction of two major obstacles between 1965 and 1975 facilitated the evolution of formal diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Thailand and the People's Republic of China. The two obstacles were the United States military presence in Thailand and the Chinese support for an insurgency in northern Thailand. This thesis constitutes an attempt to demonstrate that Bangkok and Peking each perceived the other as carrying out one major aspect of foreign policy which was unacceptable to the other. Thailand had established close military ties with the United States and was assisting the United States in the conduct of the Indochina war. The large U.S. military presence in Thailand, especially the air units, was perceived by the Chinese as a threat to Chinese security. On the other hand, Thailand pointed to the insurgency in northern Thailand and perceived that the Communist Party of Thailand was attempting to subvert Thai authority with material and propaganda support from Peking. Both of these obstacles will be traced from their origins and then the thesis will examine how each government went about reducing the two obstacles in an effort to reach an accommodation that would result in more amiable relations, and eventually lead to formal diplomatic recognition in the summer of 1975. The investigation reveals that a dialogue between Bangkok and Peking evolved gradually as the U.S. troop presence in Thailand was lowered, and as Peking placed less emphasis on support for the insurgency in northern Thailand. When the obstacles were reduced to the level that neither country perceived a threat, then diplomatic relations were established.

ADA 043724 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)