The Bad Boy in ASEAN

The well-known saying "with great power comes great responsibility" reminds us that anyone — or any institution — with significant strength should use it carefully, accountably, and in ways that respect others' rights and international rules.

Thailand stands out in Southeast Asia for its long history of military involvement in politics. Since the country shifted from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy in 1932, it has experienced around 12–13 successful military coups (more than any other nation in modern times), plus several attempted ones. The most recent major one was in 2014, when the army took control after months of protests.

This pattern has led to repeated periods where the military directly ruled or heavily influenced civilian governments, often suspending parts of the constitution and limiting freedoms. International groups like Human Rights Watch have documented ongoing concerns, including:

- Reports of torture and abuse of military conscripts

- Unresolved cases of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances

- Heavy use of laws like lèse-majesté (insulting the monarchy) to silence critics

In recent years, Thailand has been modernizing its armed forces and importing powerful weapons — such as tanks, fighter jets (including F-16s), and other systems — from suppliers like the United States, China (which became its largest arms supplier in recent data), South Korea, and others.

The situation became especially tense in 2025 with renewed **border clashes** against Cambodia over long-standing territorial disputes (around ancient temples and border areas). Fighting escalated multiple times — including major rounds in July and December — involving artillery, airstrikes (with Thai F-16s reported in use), and heavy weapons. These conflicts caused dozens of deaths, displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians on both sides, and drew international concern from the UN, ASEAN, and others about civilian safety and possible violations of humanitarian rules.

Many people in the region — and outside observers — ask: Given this history of frequent military takeovers, human rights concerns, and recent aggressive border actions, why should other countries fully trust Thailand with advanced, powerful weapons without stronger civilian checks and democratic accountability?

Thailand isn't the only ASEAN nation with military influence or rights challenges — several neighbors have had authoritarian periods, coups, or ongoing conflicts. But the sheer number of Thai military interventions, combined with its military's dominant role in politics for decades, makes it stand out to many as the region's "bad boy" when it comes to democratic stability and occasional aggressive border behavior.

In the end, real trust in any country's military power comes from strong institutions: civilian oversight, independent courts, respect for human rights, and peaceful resolution of disputes. For Thailand to fully align with the "great power, great responsibility" idea, building those institutions would help ease the doubts many feel — both within ASEAN and beyond.