By 2001, the Thai government was using Pad Thai as a form of soft power.
Soft power is influence gained through attraction, culture, and reputation rather than coercion or military force. Thailand applied that idea through culinary diplomacy, presenting Thai food as an accessible and appealing symbol of the nation abroad.
The government created the Global Thai Restaurant Company, Ltd., and supported a plan to establish at least 3,000 Thai restaurants worldwide. The effort involved several government agencies and helped expand the international visibility of Thai cuisine.
Pad Thai was especially effective because it was inexpensive, recognizable, adaptable, and easy for overseas restaurants to serve. The policy is sometimes confused with hard power, which relies on military or economic pressure; military aid and legal reform are unrelated choices in this context.