In recent years, the use of nationalist or regionalist rhetoric by Asia-Pacific politicians has grown increasingly common, especially in terms of criticisms of the international media as a 'western' force. The international media have frequently been criticized for attempting to impose their own political values upon Asian states and societies in an almost neo-colonial fashion. They have also been accused of misunderstanding and misrepresenting Asian societies and cultures. In Southeast Asia, these criticisms have been most vocally articulated by Singapore and Malaysia. The western media does not play a hegemonic, neo-colonial role in Thailand's information order; nor can domestic plots dictate the content of international news stories concerning Thailand. Rather, the relationship between domestic and international political news in Thailand is based upon processes of reciprocal misreading, and paradoxically forms part of a mutually beneficial dialogue between domestic and international media. In future, news stories of international origin may decline in domestic importance as Thai newspapers become more politically independent, and thus more credible. Yet, given the endemic structural weaknesses of Thailand's electoral system and political order, it may be some time before the Thai press becomes a truly effective fourth estate. Until then, the international media will probably continue to function as a valuable external ally for critical voices in the Thai media.