If Europe takes its Asia strategy as sketched in its policy guidelines seriously, it should indeed “consider further possible measures” as the Council warned in its conclusion on Thailand. The development and consolidation of democracy and the rule of law is a declared cornerstone of Europe’s regional agenda. Therefore, the EU must continue to move from a narrow approach to Asia based on trade relations to one that effectively promotes open and free political systems and societies. To this end, it should use its economic leverage to make its presence felt. As a region once torn by wars and ruled by some of the most vicious leaders in world history, the EU today has lessons to offer. Helping the Thai military junta to consolidate its power by doing business with it would be a slap in the face of those who defend the values the EU stands for. The generals should not be allowed to portray themselves as economic stabilizers when it was the military and other conservative forces that destabilized Thailand in the first place. And even from a purely economic perspective, Europe should have an interest in seeing the country develop into a stable and rule-based society with a predictable investment climate.