🇹🇭Thailand in Southeast Asia – is at the center of BRICS – a key ally of China, a central hub for the Belt & Road Initiative, and its stability a factor in either enabling the rise of Asia or disrupting it.
Thailand is once again staring down the barrel of political chaos. The biggest anti-government protests since 2023 have taken over central Bangkok, with thousands demanding Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra resign. The spark? A leaked phone call between Paetongtarn and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen, where she appeared to criticize a Thai military commander and told Hun Sen to ignore “the other side” in Thailand during a recent border clash that left a Cambodian soldier dead. That didn’t sit well with anyone—especially in a country where the military isn’t just part of the power structure, it often is the power structure.
Protesters have swarmed Victory Monument, waving flags and calling Paetongtarn an “enemy of the state.” These aren’t students or one-off activists—it’s a mix of hardcore nationalist groups, old-school protest leaders, and everyday citizens who see her remarks as a betrayal of Thai sovereignty and a direct shot at the military.
The political damage is already piling up. The Bhumjaithai Party, a key part of the ruling coalition, has bailed out, leaving Paetongtarn with a razor-thin majority and an open path for a no-confidence vote in parliament next month. That vote could end her time in office—or at the very least, cripple her government further.
Tensions are rising fast. Jatuporn Prompan and other protest leaders have promised more—and bigger—rallies if Paetongtarn doesn’t step down or if the courts try to prop her up. And in a country with a long history of military coups—like the ones in 2006 and 2014—people are getting nervous. One protest leader even said publicly that he’d support another coup to “stabilize” the country. That kind of talk is dangerous, and both sides of the aisle are trying to shut it down, but the damage may already be done.
Right now, Thailand is teetering. If Paetongtarn’s coalition collapses, the country could see a new prime minister, snap elections, or—if things spiral further—yet another military takeover. One thing’s for sure: this isn’t business as usual, and the next few weeks will be critical.
🇹🇭 What's Going on in Thailand???
The current PM is the daughter of US proxy and billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra whose critics often end up in jail or dead – I am based in Thailand, hence why I have been quiet regarding developments since elections in 2023.
Ms. Cat’s Chronicles 