Thailand and Asia at a Turning Point: How U.S. Retrenchment Opens Space for China and What It Means for Thai Readers
Half a century after the iconic image of helicopters leaving Saigon, Asia watches another major shift in U.S. engagement. Washington’s gradual pullback has created room for China to step in, sparking both cautious optimism and real concerns among regional governments. For Thai policymakers, civil society, and the public, the evolving dynamic prompts questions about regional stability, the future of global partnerships, and the enduring appeal of democratic values.
The Vietnam withdrawal in 1975 is remembered as a moment that shook American credibility in Southeast Asia. Yet the era also established a pattern of U.S. influence—military, diplomatic, economic, and cultural—that many Asian countries leaned on for decades. Today, as power dynamics evolve, governments and citizens alike are reassessing engagement strategies and resilience.