ABSTRACT
Regional stability is in flux due to the intensifying competition between the United Stateas (US) and China. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Mekong sub-region have incrementally become battlegrounds between the US and China, as the former is the region’s center of gravity and the latter is the region’s center of growth. Consequently, there is widespread concern as to whether the countries in the region would be forced to “take the side” of either the US or China. The COVID-19 outbreak has exacerbated the situation by disrupting multilateral cooperation and cross-border economic activities. The pandemic, however, has enabled Thailand and South Korea to revisit their relationship by broadening their focus to include not only figures of trade, investment, tourists, or state visits but also any diplomatic innovations. Thailand welcomes South Korea’s proactive engagement with the ASEAN through the New Southern Policy (NSP) and NSP Plus. This is because South Korea has not only shown that it shares ASEAN’s interest in managing the strategic competition between the US and China, but South Korea has also demonstrated a willingness to share its economic and political development experiences with many Southeast Asian countries through development projects and training. The NSP and NSPP offer practicable and complementary approaches for both Bangkok and Seoul to expand their diplomatic space amidst intensifying geopolitical competition by becoming a bridge between South Korea and ASEAN, establishing links between South Korea and the Mekong sub-region, and serving as a catalyst for the deepening of bilateral relations.
