Diplomatic Choices between Strong Neighbors：A Case Study of Thailand and Ukraine

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To make a comprehensive survey of the discussion of international relations, the vast majority of people will focus on the decision-making and interaction between dominant countries, or the direction in which dominant countries lead the world in international institutions. But under the concept put forward by the Master of Realism, Kenneth Waltz: “International politics is "anarchy." There is no institution or unit in the world that transcends the authority of any country, has great power to handle international affairs.” Therefore, even if the power of dominant countries are huge, in the participation and cooperation of the international community, small states can still have their power to influence the operation of the international community. However, the reason why small state are called small states, is because it is inferior to dominant countries under the conditions of land, population, military, economy, etc.. But small states can use the geographical connection with the dominant countries to influence the decision of the dominant country on small state’s diplomacy; Or in the face of a dominant country, the small state may also adopt the choice of "counter-vibration" or "defectiveness" to bring the best interests of the small state itself. This article compares two countries with relatively small international strength but similar conditions: Thailand and Ukraine, to compare their diplomatic choice. In the late 19th century, Western powers came to Southeast Asia to start trade and even colonize. Thailand (Siam) is a big country in the Indo-China peninsula, but in the face of Western powers such as Britain and France, when they began colonial rule against their neighbors, how did Siam maintain independent space under the attack of these two forces; in World War I and World War II How does Thailand use its diplomatic means to gain the trust of Japan and convince the Allies to prevent Thailand from becoming a defeated country? After independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine faced Russia and Europe these two forces. Although Europe has invited Ukraine to join European forces with the strength of the EU and NATO, Russia continues to influence Ukraine with the source of energy, and the division of national consciousness within Ukraine. So Russia can still have control over its west. How should Ukraine make a choice when facing these two forces? In the end of the article will compare the diplomatic choices between Thailand and Ukraine. To explores why the two countries face different choices.; why do they face different results? Last, the article will bring the results to Taiwan, which is attacked by two major forces (the United States and China), hoping to inspire Taiwan's foreign policy.