U.S. Foreign Policy Toward Thailand 1969-1976

Thailand, located in the central south peninsula, has unique geographical strategic position. During The Cold War, Thailand is America's important treaty allies in southeast Asia. America offers a wide range of economic and military aid to Thailand, Thailand joined the "Southeast Asia Treaty Organization", and signed a security treaty with the United States, making common military contingency plans,and actively cooperating with the United States southeast Asia strategy. During the Vietnam war, Thailand allowed the United States to construct and use military bases such as U-Tapao, Kele, Tahkli, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Nakhon Phanom, Don Mueang to bomb north Vietnam. Thailand also directly sent troops to participate in the civil war in Vietnam and Laos.During Vietnam war later years, with the "Nixon doctrine" issued in 1969, the United States began to implement new Asia policy to end the Vietnam war as soon as possible. The policy of the United States also changed accordingly. Both sides started negotiations about the subjects of aids and withdrawing for a long time. From 1969 to1976, Thailand had experienced Thanom Kittikachorn, Sanya Dharmasakti, Seni Pramoj, Kukrit Pramoj. On July 20, 1976 American military finally completed the evacuation from Thailand. But America and Thailand remained close economic and security cooperation.The adjustment of American policy in Thailand is the result of joint action of many factors.From the international structure level, the United States' adjustment of foreign policy was rooted in Thailand when the evolution of the international pattern appeared against America during The Cold War. Once the changes of contrast structure of powers in the international pattern happened, it is bound to affect the relationship between countries and its policy adjustment. Due to the impact of the cost of the Vietnam war, economic crisis, the Renaissance of Japan and Western Europe, and relative decline in the United States, the United States began to adjust its global strategy. The United States and the Soviet Union pattern transformed from the strategic offensive into the strategic defense in The Cold War. To some extent, the USA policy on Thailand's evolution is the product of international power structure change and the United States' strategic shrinkage in southeast Asia.In east Asia, the end of the Vietnam war and the improvement of China-US relations, are the important region factors to promote Thailand's policy shift in theUnited States. U.S. withdrew from Vietnam, China-Us relations of breaking the ice and the radical change of east Asian geopolitical landscape led to the decrease of the southeast Asia strategic status of Thailand in the United States. Thailand has stepped onto the "independent" diplomatic path, pursued the balance among various powers.The growth of the association of southeast Asian nations provided a platform for the roles of the political center Thailand played in other regions of Southeast Asia after the "Americanized".In addition, Thai domestic political transition from military to civilian elected government, domestic anti-war movement of the United States, and the upsurge of nationalism, are the important power to push us to eventually withdraw. Policy planning of the decision-making elites in America and Thailand, and interest game made both sides still maintained close cooperative relations after withdrawing of American troops from Thailand in the United States. The adjustment of American policy in Thailand is the end of southeast Asia strategic shift. Thai domestic policy gradually democratized, and went on the independent foreign road balance; America has lightened the massive burden of aids and war costs. As the Vietnam war ended,withdrawing of U.S. troops and the fast improvement of the Thailand relations with neighboring countries, Vietnam, and China made Southeast Asian regions step onto a new phase of development focused on economic cooperation, thus accelerating the pace of integration of the ASEAN regions.