A Study On The Relationship Between Thailand And The Association Of South-east Asian Nations In The 1960-1980s

This thesis investigates the function and status of Thailand in the foundation and development of the Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN) during the 1960-1980s. Moreover, the thesis consists of three parts: preface, text, and conclusion.In the text, the first chapter explores the relationship between Thailand and the foundation of the ASEAN. The Southeast Asian countries got rid of the colonial rule after the World Warâ…¡and achieved national independence. These independent countries must face both the Southeast Asian's regional environments resulted from the Cold War between the western and eastern camps, and some national and territorial disputes between these countries. The Pro-American-and-Britain countries attempted to resolve the contradictions by a combination approach and finally, the ASEAN was founded, in this process Thailand played an important role.The second chapter investigates the political and economic relations between Thailand and the ASEAN in the 1970s. The political relations mainly involves the Thailand's standpoints on building the Southeast Asia into a Zone Peace, Freedom, and Neutrality, as well as the Asia Security Systems proposed by the Soviet Union. Meanwhile, the economic relations will be studied from perspective of the bi-lateral economic relations between Thailand and the ASEAN member countries.The third chapter presents both Thailand and the ASEAN's standpoints and function on the issue of the Vietnamese invasion to Cambodia. Furthermore, this section is composed of two aspects. Firstly, the Thailand's standpoint on the Cambodia issue was consistent with the ASEAN's, namely, Thailand strongly condemned the Vietnamese invasion to Cambodia and demanded the Vietnamese armies to withdraw unconditionally from Cambodia. Secondly, on the Cambodia issue, the existent differences between Thailand and the ASEAN countries and their effects are analyzed further.