Could Thailand be so “war-drunk” at the moment to the point where she is losing her self-awareness?
I’m afraid so.
Thailand is so “war-drunk” at present that it has provoked frustration from a third-party country not involved in the Thailand–Cambodia conflict.
Supporters of the war are even defending the shameful actions of crudely dismantling a giant Hindu deity statue in an area Thailand claims Cambodia encroached upon. Last night, India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson publicly condemned the act, calling it a “disrespectful” act “that hurts the sentiments of followers around the world.”
This comment has been reported in the Indian media and is likely to affect Indians’ perception of Thailand.
Here is the full statement from the Indian External Affairs Ministry posted on its Facebook page late last night.
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“In response to media queries regarding the demolition of Hindu deity statue, the Official Spokesperson, Shri Randhir Jaiswal said:
”We have seen reports on the demolition of a statue of a Hindu religious deity, built in recent times, and located in an area affected by the ongoing Thailand-Cambodia border dispute.
Hindu and Buddhist deities are deeply revered and worshipped by people across the region, as part of our shared civilizational heritage.
“Notwithstanding territorial claims, such disrespectful acts hurt the sentiments of followers around the world and should not take place.
”We once again urge the two sides to return to dialogue and diplomacy, to resume peace and avoid any further loss of lives and damage to property and heritage.”
24 December 2025
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Nevertheless, the war-drunk people in Thailand no longer seem to care how the world views our country—a sign of the recklessness that war fever has produced.
P.S. Even many Thai media outlets are ‘celebrating the news’, using words like “jubilation” and similar expressions. They seem unaware that foreigners are dismayed. Many Thai media appear “war-drunk” themselves, wearing the #TeamThailand hat so tightly that they forget their role as both mirror and lantern for public understanding.
P.S. 2 This may affect the number of Indian tourists visiting Thailand. I strongly urge the Thai government to issue a formal apology and express regret promptly before the situation escalates in Indian media and Indian social media platforms.
In reality, after securing a disputed territory, there was no need to destroy the giant deity statue. Thailand could have waited for hostilities to subside, then invited Brahmins to respectfully handle the site and gradually relocate the statue, either keeping it or returning it to Cambodia later.
But the Thai military, intoxicated by war fever and eager to show their power, acted recklessly, oblivious to how the world—especially Hindus and the Indian government—would perceive it.
The Thai Foreign Ministry did nothing to prevent this regrettable act. Many Thai media and citizens, also caught up in war fever, cheered on these actions.
P.S.2 Even AI data recognises that Indian tourists in Thailand are important and rapidly increasing. Thailand’s war-driven recklessness may end up harming its own economic interests.
According to AI analysis:
In 2025, the number of Indian tourists visiting Thailand rose significantly, targeting 2.3–2.5 million. The figure had already surpassed 1 million by mid-year, ranking India as the third-largest source of foreign tourists to Thailand over the first ten months. This growth is driven by India’s fast-growing economy, visa facilitation (excluding 60-day visas), and Thailand’s diverse tourist offerings. The Tourism Authority of Thailand has focused on promoting this market, expecting high numbers, especially during the second half of the year and the year-end high season.
P.S. 3 The Thai military today explained the reason for destroying the Hindu statue in the border area, expressing regret if it caused any discomfort. They emphasized that the action was not related to religion or beliefs.
Note: Just before the article was published, PM Anutin Charnvirakul reacted to the Indian government’s remarks.
He said that when weighed against the lives of soldiers—those who have lost limbs or suffered severe injuries—the matter should be put into perspective.
“A statue that was destroyed, when compared with the legs and limbs our soldiers have lost, and then equated with disrespect or desecration—this is not something I would compare,” Anutin said.
This is a fallacious argument by Anutin who seems intoxicated by war, because there was absolutely no necessity for Thai soldiers to destroy the Hindu giant deity statue that the Khmer built like that, to the point that the Indian government came out to criticize it as a display of disrespect toward religion.
It was completely unnecessary. Just wait until the fighting is over, then invite Brahmins to conduct a ceremony to move it into storage, or return it to Cambodia, and that would be the end of it. It has nothing to do with the loss of Thai soldiers’ arms or legs at all.
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