He pointed to recent events, such as the Thai-Cambodian Declaration of Relations witnessed by the US, as a move towards greater balance, not an indication of aligning with the US.
He also suggested that US involvement in the resolution of the Thai-Cambodian peace issue helped put Thailand back on the geopolitical “radar screen.”
The China Relationship and Critical Minerals
On the crucial relationship with China, the minister was quick to dismiss any suggestion of a shift in attitude, confirming that ties remain strong.
He highlighted that President Xi Jinping’s recent bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul at the APEC Summit in South Korea indicated that China still values the partnership and has many areas of mutual benefit to discuss.
Sihasak clarified the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the US on critical minerals, emphasising its strategic importance for Thailand’s high-tech industry.
He explained that these minerals are vital for developing advanced technology, and the MOU focuses on the supply chain to support the production of high-tech goods in Thailand.
Crucially, he affirmed that the agreement is about technology cooperation, not resource extraction, and must strictly comply with all Thai laws and regulations.
He also noted that the agreement is non-binding and can be terminated at any time, stating, “If the terms are not in line with Thai policy and law, Thailand will not accept them.”