Prime Minister Prayut Cha-o-cha has shrugged off strong opposition in the Indonesian media to his taking over the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations next year.
Thailand will take over the alphabetically rotating leadership of the 10-member bloc from Singapore at the end of this year.
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien-Loong will pass the chair to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at the end of the Asean summit in November.
An article in the Jakarta Post on July 31 urged the grouping to bypass Thailand because the country is ruled by a military regime.
"Asean will unnecessarily humiliate itself in front of the global community when the regional grouping introduces Prayut as the chair next year," the commentary said.
"Preventing the Thai junta chief from chairing Asean is not meant to punish the people, but the military generals," it added.
Gen Prayut seemed upset when it was srawn to his attention by reporters at Government House.
"The Jakarta Post is not Indonesia," he replied sharply. "Did the Indonesian government say that?"
The prime minister said it was Thailand's turn to lead the Southeast Asian grouping and the commentary did not reflect the regional sentiment. "It is just the opinion of an individual," he said.
"Are there any other questions that could stir up conflict?" he retorted.
