WRITER: PRANGTHONG JITCHAROENKUL
Trump's China stance 'won't affect region'
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.
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