After international recognition in 1972 with a seat at the United Nations, China was destined to rise, but nobody at the time ever imagined that it would be so dramatic and far-reaching, shaking existing regional and international orders.
In retrospect, it was amazing that Kukrit's short-lived 272-day minority government (March 14, 1975 till January 12, 1976) could forge ties with China against all odds. Deservingly, it was Kukrit's only foreign policy legacy —the country's most memorable.
Over the past two decades, China has modernised and moved to become the world's second largest economy - while Thailand has been through eight coups and currently is still trying to break the vicious political cycle.