The spying scandal in the US has parallels here: Thailand is a hotbed of foreign agents that go unchecked.
The arrest of 11 people in the US on charges of being part of a Russian spy ring, carrying out deep espionage in the world's most powerful country, is an intriguing development. The question that many people may be asking is: Why now?
It is a perplexing situation. American-Russia ties are generally in good shape under the Obama administration and the presidency of Dmitry Medvedev. At a time of serious economic recession, the two countries do not need international embarrassments to get in the way of recovery efforts. Nor do they need tit-for-tat expulsions and recriminations in order to shore up diplomatic posturing. After all, the two superpowers recently agreed to limit their respective stockpiles of nuclear warheads.
However, it seems that this agreement, and cooperation on other issues, does not include espionage activities in both countries.
The US might well be considered a land full of foreign spies - both friendly and unfriendly. For diplomats, it is the most desirable country to be stationed in, and this goes for spies too. The country is a free and open democracy, where people from many lands can blend into society. It is a place where people dream of starting a new life, a new job, a new relationship - almost anything is possible.
Immigrants come from all over the world. So, too, do the spies of the world. They love the American people because they are generally friendly, are willing to talk, and are easy to make friends with. If the history of espionage in the US is any indicator, some Americans are quite willing to become your informant. They do it for political reasons, sometimes out of frustration or personal revenge. But the point is that spying on the US is undertaken anywhere and at any time.
The task of the alleged Russian spies was to get acquainted with American decision-makers in the inner circles of power. Obviously, in this days and age, counting nuclear warheads is no longer the priority. Spying is no longer as simplistic as a James Bond movie. To understand rival nations, you have to understand the thinking and attitudes of their leaders, and the way they perceive global issues that affect overall relations and strategic advantage. Such issues as Washington's position on climate change or on the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico are pivotal for other governments.
Doubtless, the US government broke the news in such a big way because Washington knows that there are thousands of foreign spies working in a similar fashion. It was a warning to all spies that the domestic intelligence agencies are coming to get them all. The Americans are nice people, but they can be mean if information, even on non-lethal issues, is used against them.
Thailand should learn from the US. This country remains the hub for foreign spies in Southeast Asia. Some have been living here for decades, or they have retired from active service, but still keep their hand in. The heyday of the Cold War and the Vietnam War - when every bit of information on our communist neighbours had to be discerned - is long over.
But there are new arenas. At present, there are thousands of Burmese spies, not to mention hundreds of others from neighbouring countries, spread throughout provincial towns - particularly in the Western provinces and other border areas - working diligently, dissecting information gleaned from various ministries, including defence and interior.
Foreign spies here easily interact with local officials. They do not have to go under deep cover. Like the US, Thailand is an open society. Reading newspapers and following other media is like reading confidential documents, as informants are everywhere, driven by their own interests, mainly political. Perhaps the time has come for the authorities to take a closer look at the espionage community in Thailand.