Ford Motor Co. CEO Jim Farley stunned observers this week. Just days after urging that Chinese carmakers be barred from the U.S., he pledged deeper ties abroad. “We value our Chinese partners, they help us stay sharp and compete in many markets around the world,” Farley told reporters. “We will continue to expand these partnerships.” No specific deals announced. But the signal is clear. Ford needs China’s edge to survive overseas. Farley’s pivot reflects brutal market math. Chinese brands like BYD and Geely dominate with low costs and rapid innovation. In Thailand, their share hit 21% last year—quadrupling from 2022. Japanese giants once ruled there. Now they’re retreating. Ford snapped up Suzuki’s Rayong plant in January for $3.9 billion over 30 years, boosting its capacity amid the chaos. Changan Automobile, Ford’s longtime China partner, poured 30 billion baht into a Thai hub for right-hand-drive exports. Great Wall Motors grabbed GM’s old facility. Southeast Asia turns into a Chinese export fortress.…