In an interview with the Asia Times, China's ambassador to Bangkok, Guan Mu, who speaks Thai fluently and has served in Thailand for 18 years in different capacities, underscored his country's strategy of befriending Thailand by avoiding interference in its domestic problem, It is apparent that China has been ramping up economic and cultural diplomacy, all encapsulated within a discourse of Chinese soft power, which is more relevant and attuned to Thailand's future interests than the United States, still strong emphasis on security issues.