This is something the more incompetent China watchers misinterpret. Chinese society is in a high energy state, like a string in tension, where small changes can release dramatic and explosive energy in unpredictable ways. This is byproduct of China's rapid modernization. Korea
is actually further down the slope and Korean society was much the same two decades back, though not quite as noticeable politically because it was and still is a US vassal. Japan too prior to the ww2 was also in a similar state of play. What he is noticing in Thailand and
mistakes for confidence is actually resignation. A low energy state, the slack string of Thai society and the indifference of the "native" in Kiplingesque parlance. A people resigned to their lot in life and uninterested and unwilling to rock the proverbial boat.
Thailand in relation to the West functions as an open air kiddy brothel, it's Media apparatus controlled by luk kreungs consumed by actual self loathing Thais who can't even stand looking at other Thais. It's political and economic upper echelons dominated by an ethnic clique of
of Chinese creoles. That this doesn't fill the average Thai with rage and shame isn't because of confidence but acceptance that this is their lot and nothing can be done to alter the state of affairs so c'est la vie.
