It looks to me like the Thai navy is proceeding based on a specific interpretation of international law; Article 60 https://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agr

It looks to me like the Thai navy is proceeding based on a specific interpretation of international law; Article 60 https://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/closindx.htm https://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unc... 1. In the exclusive economic zone, the coastal State shall have the exclusive right to construct and to authorize and regulate the construction, operation and use of: (a) artificial islands; (b) installations and structures for the purposes provided for in article 56 and other economic purposes; (c) installations and structures which may interfere with the exercise of the rights of the coastal State in the zone. In all the articles I've read regarding this, they specifically say they're doing it because it is a hazard to oil shipping in Phuket (which I guess would be (c) here). This appears to be a nonsense justification, but critically important is that they're attempting to venture a justification at all. They're not just saying "This is a stateless installation and we're destroying it because we can", as the "beyond the borders of anyone willing to use force on their behalf" narrative would otherwise indicate, and if they were on the high seas beyond the 200nm limit, it's unclear if there would actually be a problem at all with the Thai navy (but probably not, or at least not in this exact fashion).