All those networks I

Historically, many Chinese in Thailand had a fraught relationship with the country they made home. There were times when they were held by the state, including the royal state, to be politically suspicious, often too tied to their ethnic homeland. But they learned, and this was reinforced in the second half of the 20th century, to kowtow to the monarchy. Subordinating and supplicating to the king made one “loyal.”

They were the good Chinese. There were also “bad” Chinese, calling for democracy, participation, and some calling for revolution. They were repressed, assassinated, jailed, and more.

Official peak associations of the Sino-Thai spent a lot of time and money in demonstrating their submission to the monarchy in the 20th century. Sino-Thai tycoons have carved a track to the palace, dragging bags of money to “donate” to the monarch and members of the royal family. Networks were established.

This was not just bribing their way to Thainess, for many imbibed of the kool-aid of royalist ideology. Many ultra-royalists are of Chinese ancestry, as are many of the royalist academics who lap at the heels of royalism. And, it was not a one-way street, for the royal imprimatur grants Sino-Thais their Thainess.

This is all to introduce a small example of that 20th century made 21st century.

Pattaya Mail reproduces official “news” that King Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida “will preside over the opening of two commemorative archways built in Bangkok” that are very Chinese ways of “honoring” the king.

The two royal gifts “are meant to commemorate two special occasions,” the king’s 72 birthday and the 50th anniversary of Thai-Chinese diplomatic relations.

The two archways are located in areas dominated by Sino-Thais.

From Pattaya Mail

The “donors” are reported to include the “Federation of Business and Professional Women of Thailand under Royal Patronage, along with the public and private sectors and Thais of Chinese origin … to show their gratitude and loyalty to the monarchy and the country.”

That feels very 20th century.

Of course, many of those who called for monarchy reform were also of Chinese ancestry. For their efforts many of them have been repressed and jailed. Royalists know there are still good and bad Chinese.