Международная научная конференция ЮВА в СПбГУ-65

Международная научная конференция, посвященная 65-й годовщине начала изучения языков ЮВА в нашей стране 346 P. Charoenpacharaporn perhaps the reason why Nehru and U Nu decided to personally sound out Phibun’s opinion on the Bandung Conference and convince him that this Conference would present an opportunity for Thailand to meet with Zhou Enlai, hoping it would lead to a different Thai foreign policy approach towards the PRC. On the Thai part, the responses from government officials in December 1954 were conflicting. The implications were two-fold. Firstly, it was clear that Phibun was enthusiastic in warming up ties with India and Burma — the Colombo Powers, as evidence of Phibun welcoming the opportunity of an invitation for a state visit to India and the way Phibun received Nehru and Nu in Bangkok. Secondly, improving relations with the Colombo Powers at this point did not translate into Thailand joining non-alignment. This explained why Acting Minister of ForeignAffairs Vorakan issued a statement declining Thai participation in the Bandung Conference prior to the Nehru-Nu visit. All together these suggested that the Phibun Government would now prioritise Thai relations with Asian neighbours alongside its commitment to defence under the Manila Pact. Accepting the Bandung Invitation At the end of the Bogor Conference, the Colombo Powers announced on 30 December 1954 a list of thirty nations invited to the Bandung Conference which would take place between 18 and 24 April in Java, Indonesia. Thailand was included, despite the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs’ statement declining Thai participation in the Bandung Conference. Phibun’s closest personal advisor, Sang Phathanothai saw this as an opportunity to get to know the PRC, and about non-alignment, both of which could be used as a balancing force to the United States by Thailand [Phathanothai 1994: 43]. Sang argued that while the Americans were important, Thailand ‘must learn to live with China’ [Phathanothai 1994: 40]. Phibun agreed. However, he did not know how to explain to the Americans Thailand’s participation without giving an impression that his government wished to explore an alternative path other than the ongoing alignment with the United States [Phathanothai