Tanya 1103

Why Thailand never been colonized?

In Southeast Asia nation, Myanmar and Malaysia were under the British, and

Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam were under the French but Thailand is the only
country that has never been colonized by European. Even China was carves up by
Western power. The reasons why that make Thailand never been colonised are
because King Rama five abilities, the buffer state, and the Burney treaty.

King Rama five is a king at that time, his name was King Chulalongkorn. He
is one of the greatest in Thailand, he canceled slavery in Thailand because he saw
that slaves treated like animals, and another important thing is he did not let
European to control Thailand. His decision makes Thailand become like today. At
the first time, Thailand lost their Khmer lands to France because he doesnt want
France to colonized Thailand. Thailand lost about 123,050 square kilometres at
and another 6 islands on 15 July 2410. The second time, thailand lost another land
called kwan-12-ju-tai, it contains about 321,000 square kilometres. On 27 March
2431, France bully Thailand by send the ship to Chao-Phra-Ya river, when the ships
came near Phra-Chulalongkorn fortress, Thailand shoot 3 bullets to warn France
but France shoot back to Thailand, England also sent the ship to Thailand but they
didnt help Thailand. France force Thailand to pay 3 million frank, give them a land,
including island in the river, and Thailand need to withdraw on Kong river side.
Thailand didnt accept two of them, so France control Chuntraburi and trad to force
Thailand to do what they want. In 2451, Thailand gave their land to borrow 4 million
pounds money from England to pay debt. Thailand also be an allied with Russia, so
it makes other country afraid to attack Thailand. Russia was very powerful at that
time.
Thailand was a buffer state between British and French. French colonizing
Indochina and the British colonising the Southern part of the Malay Peninsula and
Burma. Buffer State is a small state that lying between two larger rival countries
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which created to avoid conflict between country. There is one problem about French
and British expansion, if both of them keep expanding their country, they will have a
conflict with each other, they might fight for lands that they both wanted. So, they
decided to keep Thailand to be a fixed border and thats why Thailand called a
buffer state of French and British. Not only buffer state makes Thailand never been
colonised, but also because of military of Thailand become stronger, King Rama
five changed Thailand to be more modern by adapting from the European. Thailand
and British also signed a treaty, called Burney treaty. Barney treaty is that makes
Thailand and British become allied, they agreeing that they will reduce tax and let
British come into country and expand their trade, this benefit both of them, Thailand
become wealthier and have a stronger military because modern weapons. In 1859,
French started to influence Vietnam and Cambodia. So, King Rama three try to
make British support Thailand, he gave the land to British because he realised that
at that time British interested in expanding lands.
Laos is one of the country near Thailand that has been colonised many
times. In the late 18th century, Thailand controlled some parts of Laos because
Laos lose the war. By the early 1946, French come back to colonise Laos because
they wanted Laos natural resources, such as timber, tin, gold, and gemstones.
French used Laos land to produce many rice, much more than Laos produce rice
for themselves. Then, the three kingdoms of Laos had combined into one again to
unite themselves against French. In the Second Indochina War (1954-1975), Laos
was caught by America and Vietnam.
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References
A. (2016, February 1). About Laos. Retrieved February 6, 2017, from http://www.appu-cs.org/
article.php?story=20070525164257493

U. (2016, December 13). U.S. Relations With Laos. Retrieved February 5, 2017, from https://
www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2770.htm

Cartalucci, T. (2013, December 20). Thailand: Fighting the Superpower. Retrieved February 5,
2017, from http://www.globalresearch.ca/thailand-fighting-the-superpower-understanding-the-
greater-global-chessboard/5362210