Thailand's increasing defence cooperation with China and other powers will not wreck similar cooperation with the United States, an American expert on China says.
Speaking to reporters at a round table discussion in Bangkok Tuesday, David Shambaugh, founding director of the China Policy Programme at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University, said it is not the US position to convince Southeast Asian countries to choose between Washington and Beijing.
He described defence relations between Thailand and the US as "extremely deep, strong and long-standing", citing the Cobra Gold joint military exercise which is scheduled to take place next month.
Speaking a few days before President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th American president, the China expert said the US's general policy towards Asia-Pacific region was likely to continue.
Mr Shambaugh said radical shifts in foreign policy toward Asian partners are unlikely to be seen under the upcoming Trump administration, though a change in China policy is expected.
"You will not see significant change at the regional level, but I assume we will see change in the China policy. I anticipate a change in Mr Trump's administration which is far more confrontational towards China," he said.
Mr Trump has criticised Beijing for taking economic advantage of the US in the tension-filled South China Sea by building massive island fortresses.
However, Mr Shambaugh insisted Thailand and other countries in the regional pact should not take sides in the dispute.
"Asean member countries should not take sides. It is a mistake," he said, adding the long-awaited Code of Conduct for the South China Sea has not made much progress and is still under negotiation.
Following tough remarks made by president-elect Trump on Sino-US trade, the China expert did not believe there will be a "trade war" between the two countries as the leaders realise the consequences would jeopardise both nations' economies.
Citing Mr Trump's opposition to the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade pact and the possibility the pact could be jettisoned on Mr Trump's first day in office, Mr Shambaugh admitted that withdrawal from the pact could hinder US trade with other Asian countries and also Thailand's economic interests indirectly.
Withdrawal by the US from the TPP would generate more opportunities for Asean, drawing on the pan-Asian Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership which is backed by China, he said.
During the talk, Mr Shambaugh described Chinese President Xi Jinping as an "unusual" leader and said America is now dealing with a "strong" China, not a weak one.
"Under Xi Jinping, China has really moved from being a free rider in global governance to a much more constructive, active participating contributor," Mr Shambaugh said.