Australia–Thailand relations

Foreign relations exist between Australia and Thailand. Thailand is represented through its embassy in Canberra and a consulate general in Sydney. Australia has an embassy in Bangkok. Formal diplomatic relations were established between the two nations in 1952.[1]

Australia–Thailand relations
Map indicating locations of Thailand and Australia

Thailand
Australia
Diplomatic mission
Royal Thai Embassy, CanberraEmbassy of Australia, Bangkok
Envoy
Arjaree SriratanabanAngela Macdonald

History
Queensland Governor John Goodwin and Prince Purachatra, along with others, in Brisbane, 1927

Origins

In the 1901 Victorian census, three-Thais were recorded. In the 1920s, King Vajiravudh sent Butra Mahintra to Australia to purchase racehorses. In 1927, the Prince of Kamphaengphet, Purachatra Jayakara led a group of Thai royals to Brisbane to tour Australian agriculture, meeting with the Governor of Queensland, John Goodwin.[2]

Australian and New Zealand flags at the Hellfire Pass in 2004

World War II

Following the attack on Pearl Habour, and the Japanese invasion of Thailand on 7 and 8 December 1941 respectively, Australia and Thailand found themselves on opposing sides in World War II. After the Thai declaration of war on Britain, Australia declared war on Thailand on 2 March via Swiss diplomats.[3]

In order to further their invasion into Burma, the Japanese started construction of the Burma railway from Bangkok to Thanbyuzayat. From October 1942 to October 1943, 13,000 Australian POWs captured from Singapore and the East Indies were transported to help construct the railway alongside Allied POWs and civilians, as well as Asian labourers. Construction of the railway resulted in the death of 2,815 POWs.[4] A particular section of the railway was the Hellfire pass in Thailand, where POWs and civilians were forced to cut through a mountain pass. In the 1980s, the cutting was reclaimed from the jungle by ex-Australian POWs.[5] Currently, the Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre is handled by the Australian Department of Veteran's Affairs.[6]

In the post-war period, 111 Japanese and Koreans who forced the construction of the railway, were convicted of war crimes, resulting in 32 of them being executed.[7] Australia also signed a peace treaty with Thailand on 3 April 1946, becoming one of the first acts of Australian independence from Britain in its foreign affairs after the Statute of Westminster came into effect in 1942.[8]

Australian PM Harold Holt and Thai PM Thanom Kittikachorn at a SEATO meeting in the Philipines

Cold War

During the Cold War, both Australia and Thailand alligned themselves with the United States against Communism. Formal relations between Australia and Thailand were established on 19 December 1952.[9] When the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) was formed on 8 September 1954 in Manila, both Thailand and Australia were founding members.[10] From 1962 to 1968, to support their fellow SEATO member, Australia deployed F-86 Sabre aircraft to Ubon Ratchathani province when the area came under a Communist insurgency.[11][12] During the Vietnam War, both Australia and Thailand fought against the North Vietnamese.

During the 1960s and 1970s, both Thai and Khmer artifacts were smuggled through Thailand and sold to buyers in the United States and Australia. The main importer of Thai and Khmer artifacts into Australia was by the David Jones Art Gallery, who subsequently sold them to museums in Australia.[13]

As part of the Colombo Plan, Australia attracted students from Thailand to study in Thailand.[2] From 1970 to 1976, Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn studied in Australian at Parramatta's King’s School, and Duntroon's Royal Military College. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the Australian government was particularly concerned about Vajiralongkorn's safety from assasinations.[14] From 2018 to 2021, the Australian embassy in Bangkok would go on to produce a documentary around Vajiralongkorn time in Australia, with the 18-minute film being screened to King Vajiralongkorn on 15 February 2021, and then on Thai television.[15][16]

Both Thailand and Australia were founding members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) formed in 1989.[17]

Modern era

During the Indonesian occupation of East Timor, Thailand supported Australian efforts in the region by contributing the second most soldiers to the Australian-led International Force East Timor.[18]

During the 2006 Thai coup d'état, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said, "it's of grave concern to us that the government has been overthrown in this way".[19]

In 2005, both signed the Thailand–Australia Free Trade Agreement, the ASEAN–Australia–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement in 2010, and the Australia–Thailand Strategic Partnership on 13 November 2020.[20]

In 2023, Murray Upton returned nine Buddha statues to Thailand which were obtained by his father from Trang province in 1911.[21]

Currently, both Thailand and Australia are major non-NATO allies of the United States.[22][23]

Monthly short term travel departures from Australia to Thailand since 1991

Trade
Monthly value of Australian merchandise exports to Thailand (A$ millions) since 1988
Monthly value of Thai merchandise exports to Australia (A$ millions) since 1988

In 2003, the two countries announced they would enter into a free trade agreement.[24] The Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA) entered into force on 1 January 2005. TAFTA has facilitated increased two-way trade and investment, improved business mobility, encouraged international best practice, and promoted bilateral cooperation in a range of areas including customs procedures, government procurement, competition policy and intellectual property protection.[25]

As of 2015, the two-way trade in goods and services was worth more than A$20.8 billion.[26]

Mineral exports

Thailand is an important market for Australian aluminium and metal. Australia is also a significant supplier of coal to Thailand.

Tourism

Thailand is a significant tourist market for Australians with 400,000 Australians visiting Thailand each year. The Australia-Thailand aviation market is Australia's 6th largest.[27]

Australian passport holders can stay in Thailand for 30-days without applying for a visa.[28]

Smartravller, which provides international travel advice by the Australian government for Australians travelling overseas, list Thailand overall as 'exercise a high degree of caution', whilst the southern provinces of Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat are labled as 'do not travel' due to the insurgency.[29]

Flights between Australia and Thailand
Qantas and Thai Airways at Suvarnabhumi airport, 2014

Several direct flights between Australia and Thailand exists:

Airline Australian Airport Thai Airport Notes Refs
AirAsia Brisbane Airport Don Mueang International Airport

Suvarnabhumi Airport

 [30]
Jetstar Sydney Phuket International Airport
Melbourne Airport [31]
Suvarnabhumi Airport [32]
Qantas Adelaide Airport [33]
Brisbane Airport Phuket Airport [33]
Suvarnabhumi Airport [33]
Melbourne Airport [33]
Koh Samui Airport [33]
Phuket Airport [33]
Sydney Airport [33]
Koh Samui Airport [33]
Suvarnabhumi Airport
Thai Airways Melbourne Airport [34]
Perth Airport Coming soon [35]
Sydney Airport [36]

State and official visits
State and official visits to Australia by a Thai royal and Thai Prime-minister
Dates People Locations Itinerary
August 26-September 12, 1962 King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirkit Canberra, Port Kembla, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide, Perth, Woomera In Canberra, they visited several military sites and then toured Sydney harbour. Attended a garden party in Brisbane where they met Thai students as well as those in Melbourne. First visit by a non-British royal.[37]
May 26-29, 2012 Prime-minister Yingluck Shinawatra Canberra, Sydney Made a visit to Canberra and Sydney on the 60th annivesary of relations. At the Shangri-La Hotel in Sydney, she encouraged investment in Thailand.[38]
State and official visits to Thailand by an Australian Prime-minister
Dates People Locations Itinerary
April 20-23, 1957 Robert Menzies Bangkok Arrived in Bangkok to talk about Australia's ties with SEATO.[39]
November 3-4, 2019 Scott Morrison Bangkok Arrived in Bangkok to attend the 14th East Asia Summit, where he also met with Prayut Chan-o-cha.[40]
November 17-19, 2022 Anthony Albanese Bangkok Arrived in Bangkok to attend the 29th APEC summit.[41]

Diplomacy

Widlife

On 5 November 2006, several Asian Elephants arrived from Thailand to Melbourne zoo. The group consisted of three females called Kulab, Dokkoon, and Num-Oi. Kulab gave birth to a male in 2010 called Ongard, who is now part of a breeding program in the United States; Dokkoon gave birth to a female also on 16 January 2010 called Mali; while Num-Oi gave birth in 2023 to Kati. Luk Chai is a male descended from elephants from Thailand born at Taronga zoo on 4 July 2009 who was moved to Melbourne for breeding and has since fathered three calves.[42]

See also

References
  1. "Thailand". Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
  2. "Origins: History of immigration from Thailand - Immigration Museum, Melbourne Australia". 30 July 2008. Archived from the original on 30 July 2008. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  3. Thīrawit 1979, pp. 2–3.
  4. "Stolen Years: Australian prisoners of war - The Burma–Thailand Railway | Australian War Memorial". www.awm.gov.au. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  5. "Burma-Thailand Railway and Hellfire Pass 1942 to 1943". Department of Veteran's Affairs. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  6. "Remembering the Burma-Thailand Railway 80 years on". Department of Veteran's Affairs. 16 October 2023.
  7. "National Museum of Australia - Burma–Thailand Railway". www.nma.gov.au. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  8. Battersby 2000, p. 15.
  9. "70 years of Thai-Aussie friendship". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  10. Franklin, John K. (2006). The Hollow Pact: Pacific Security and the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization. p. 1. ISBN 978-0-542-91563-5.
  11. "Two Sabre aircraft of 79 Squadron RAAF line the tarmac apron at the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) ..." www.awm.gov.au. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  12. "Behind the Australia–Thailand Strategic Partnership". East Asia Forum. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  13. "New evidence shows how a major supplier to an Australian gallery worked with an accused smuggler". ABC News. 9 June 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  14. Ruffles, Michael (29 August 2020). "The miseducation of King Rama X". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  15. "Why did the Australian government make a documentary about Thailand's King?". ABC News. 20 February 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  16. Trade, corporateName= Department of Foreign Affairs and. "Australian Embassy in". thailand.embassy.gov.au. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  17. "Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)". Department of Foreign Affaris and Trade. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  18. Chieocharnpraphan, Thosaphon. "Strategic Partnership between Australia and Thailand: A Case Study of East Timor" (PDF). Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  19. "Military seizes power in Thailand, ousts PM". ABC Online. 20 September 2006.
  20. "Behind the Australia–Thailand Strategic Partnership". East Asia Forum. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  21. leah (26 January 2023). "Australia returns 9 ancient Buddha statues to Thailand after 112 years". Thaiger. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  22. Fisher, Dan (16 February 1987). "U.S. Is Granting Israel Non-NATO Ally Status : Move Should Bring Strategic and Economic Gains, Shamir Says; Egypt Gets Same Rating". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  23. Despeignes, Peronet (20 October 2003). "U.S. wants APEC agenda to include security issues". USA Today. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  24. "Australia, Thailand agree to trade deal". Smh.com.au. 20 October 2003. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  25. "Thailand country brief - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade". Dfat.gov.au. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  26. "Thailand-Australia FTA". Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  27. "Minister for Resources and Energy, Minister for Tourism". Archived from the original on 14 May 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
  28. "Travel to Thailand from Australia | ThaiEmbassy.com". www.thaiembassy.com. 9 November 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  29. "Thailand". Smartraveler. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  30. "AirAsia launches direct flights from Brisbane to Bangkok". 7 February 2019.
  31. "Jetstar Route Maps". Jetstar Airways Limited. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  32. "Jetstar Route Maps". Jetstar Airways Limited. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  33. "Flights to Thailand". Qantas. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  34. "Thai Airways shelves Brisbane". Executive traveller. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  35. Limited, Bangkok Post Public Company. "THAI plans more flights for tourists". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  36. "THAI's destinations". Thai Airways.
  37. "Vol. 33 No. 9 (September 1962)". Trove. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  38. "Thai PM Yingluck Shinawatra: Invest in Thailand". Asia Society. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  39. Times, Special to The New York (20 April 1957). "Menzies Visits Thailand". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  40. "'No historical feud': China denies tensions with Australia ahead of bilateral meeting". ABC News. 3 November 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  41. "Addressing strategic, economic and climate Challenges with world leaders | Prime Minister of Australia". www.pm.gov.au. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  42. "Asian Elephant". www.zoo.org.au. Retrieved 22 October 2023.

Sources
  • Thīrawit, Khīan [Khien Theeravit] (1979). Australian–Thai Relations: A Thai Perspective. Occasional Paper No. 58. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. OCLC 22409046.
  • Battersby, Paul (2000). "An Uneasy Peace: Britain, the United States and Australia's Pursuit of War Reparations from Thailand, 1945–1952". Australian Journal of International Affairs. 54 (1): 15–31. doi:10.1080/00049910050007014. ISSN 1035-7718. S2CID 153688878.
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