I cannot comment to much as I am no expert on the intricacy of international geo political relationships, but it will be interesting to see how long Thailand can balance China and West military relations. They are both plying for Thailand's attention which I am sure Prayut is well aware of and is playing to his advantage.

Australia certainly has a positive outlook on military relations with Thailand by sending military personnel to Khon Kaen to study the Thai language which is funded by the Australia government.

Good luck to Prayut and at the end of the day this can only benefit Thailand and it's people.

Been going on for a long time. My last job, prior to my first retirement, was as ASO at the RAN School Of Training Technology. Part of that was looking after Foreign Officers within the 'Defence Co-Operation Program'. Thais, Filippinos. Malaysians, Singaporeans. and others This ls paid for by the Australian Government too. It is very generous in fact.

I would sometimes take the Thais home to my place for a Thai feed and to have a yak with the missus.

Thai is a major language on the curriculum of the ADF Languages School at Point Cook.

Not to mention if you remember that Bangkok was the HQ of the now defunct SEATO (South East Asia Treaty Organisation). Asia's once NATO equivalent.

Australia has had very strong ties with Thailand for many years, including Military ones. often what you see on the surface is not what goes on behind diplomatic closed doors. Hehe just ask Assange and Snowden.

I can understand the appeal of teaching US arrogance a lesson, but given the appetites of China in the region that feels very shortsighted.

You mean the arrogance of addressing human rights issues and military rule?

Absolutely.

Yes, shame on them!

Not that it should be completely disregarded in geopolitics, morals is the worst diplomacy. First, they're not virtuous themselves to give lessons (far from it), and most importantly: it does not work.