These moves are largely seen
as attempts to boost Thailand’s (and Thaksin’s) leadership role in Asian affairs.
50 They do reºect a shared belief, however, that “exploiting Thailand’s
strategic location to help recover Southeast Asia’s traditional role as a strategic
bridge between the different parts of greater Asia will make our whole region
more peaceful.”51 As one Singaporean minister put it, “Southeast Asia is both a
bridge and a buffer between the two great civilizational areas of China and
India. Neither China nor India has ever invaded or occupied Southeast Asia
because it serves as a useful buffer without impeding trade.”