The recent incursion by a Myanmar MiG-29 fighter jet into Thai airspace is par for the course in the intimate ties between the militaries of both countries. Myanmar's military, also known as the Tatmadaw, in fact wants to be more like its Thai counterpart. The Royal Thai Armed Forces, on the other hand, may end up later having to be more like the Tatmadaw to maintain its role and rule in politics. These two militaries together pose a litmus test for states and societies everywhere. If the popular will and public interest can be systematically stolen and subverted in this corner of the globe, it can happen anywhere.
Prior to the MiG-29 incident, the contextual optics in Thai-Myanmar relations had already raised eyebrows. As Thailand's top brass seized power time and again in 2006 and 2014, military-military relations between the two countries became ever closer, characterised by regular high-level visits and top-tier dialogue and communication.
