"Big Dul" welcomed the Chinese Defense Minister on his visit to Thailand, strengthening relations and affirming China's neutral stance on the Thailand-Cambodia dispute.
On 24 July 2026, Lieutenant General Adul Boonthamcharoen, Thailand's Defense Minister, welcomed Admiral Dong Jun, Defense Minister of the People's Republic of China, and his delegation during their official visit to Thailand from 23 to 26 July 2026. The Ministry of Defense organized an honor guard inspection ceremony combining all three military branches before holding security talks aimed at advancing their comprehensive strategic partnership, developing the defense industry, technology, and AI, building on Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's efforts at the 2026 World AI Conference in Shanghai.
After the talks, Lieutenant General Adul revealed that the Chinese Defense Minister conveyed a direct message from President Xi Jinping emphasizing strong bilateral ties and readiness to assist Thailand in every aspect. However, China clearly affirmed its neutral position since both Thailand and Cambodia are valued friends of China.
Regarding the delivery of military equipment to Cambodia, the Chinese Defense Minister stated that the deliveries follow existing contracts but that China would delay shipments during the fighting to avoid strengthening Thailand’s adversaries, showing respect and preserving the strategic partnership with Thailand.
Furthermore, Chinese authorities proposed enhancing cooperation in training, technology, and AI systems for security. The Chinese Defense Minister invited Lieutenant General Adul to attend a forum and make an official visit to China, an invitation which he has accepted. He emphasized that the talks were highly successful in strengthening the good relations between the two countries.