After Thailand abstained from voting at the UN General Assembly on Oct 12 before the 11th Emergency Special Session of the UN General Assembly, the country was bombarded with comments, mainly negative, over its decision. The other 34 countries that took a similar stand were not in the news because they were expected to do precisely that.
That helps explain why Thailand's international decision matters a lot -- something that its own citizens, friends, and allies have taken for granted. Although its abstention did not change the equation of the current conflict in Ukraine, it has more to do with Thailand's concern about the next chapter of the ongoing conflict impacting the economy and security of the rest of the world. In its explanation of the vote, it is clear that its positions and adherence to the UN charter and international laws have not changed. To comprehend the rationale of this landmark decision, Thailand's past diplomatic practices must be part of the consideration as it has preserved the country's national sovereignty from Western colonialists, which annexed parts of Thai territory. The decision was more than skin deep as it involved a combination of factors and circumstances -- immediate and long term as well as internal and external aspects. At least 10 reasons can be identified.
