Chaiyaporn Phayakhrut 蔡亚鹏

Education:
B.A., Chulalongkorn University
M.A., Beijing Normal University

Research Interests:
Overseas Chinese in Thailand; Thailand-China relations

Self-Introduction:
I was born in a rural area of Thailand, where I grew up observing how Chinese communities gradually became part of Thai society, even though my own family was not Chinese. These early experiences sparked my curiosity about how culture and identity shape the way people live together. Later, I had the privilege of joining a Thai delegation to China during the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries. That journey left a deep impression on me and inspired my enduring fascination with understanding China’s remarkable path of development and transformation.

Thesis Advisor: Dr Huang Yanjie, Prof Wong Sin Kiong

Thesis Title: Between Revolution and Capital: The Transformation of Chinese Society in Cold War Thailand

Thesis Research Area:
This thesis explores how the Cold War transformed Chinese society in Thailand—not simply from “Chinese” to “Thai,” but through a complex struggle between ideology, commerce, political loyalty, and survival. It argues that the Cold War was not merely a geopolitical conflict but a force that reshaped everyday Chinese life and ultimately helped make capital the dominant expression of Chinese identity in Thailand.