In May 2014, the military imposed martial law amid a political crisis to preserve law and order in which South East Asian country?

Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to international current affairs and political developments. It refers to an event in 2014 when the military in a South East Asian country imposed martial law during a serious political crisis. Knowing about such major political interventions by the armed forces is important for understanding regional stability and democratic processes.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The event occurred in May 2014.
• The military imposed martial law to preserve law and order.
• The country is in South East Asia.
• The situation arose amid a political crisis, not a foreign war.

Concept / Approach:
In 2014, Thailand experienced prolonged political unrest, protests and a power struggle between different political factions. On 20 May 2014, the Thai army declared martial law across the country, officially stating that the aim was to maintain order and stability. This move was followed by a military coup that removed the government. Other South East Asian countries listed, such as the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia, did not have a comparable nationwide imposition of martial law in that specific period for the same reasons.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the timeframe, which is May 2014. Step 2: Recall news reports from that time describing protests and political deadlock in Bangkok and other parts of Thailand. Step 3: Remember that the Thai military declared martial law, citing the need to preserve law and order and promising initially that it was not a coup. Step 4: Compare this with political situations in the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia, none of which involved a similar martial law declaration in that exact period. Step 5: Confirm that Thailand fits all the details given in the question: region, date, martial law and political crisis.

Verification / Alternative check:
Timelines of Thai politics show that martial law was declared on 20 May 2014 by the Royal Thai Army, and a full coup followed shortly after. International news agencies reported this as a key development in Thailand's ongoing political turmoil. Lists of major political events in other South East Asian countries around the same time do not show an identical nationwide martial law step, reinforcing that Thailand is the correct choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The Philippines has a history of martial law under earlier regimes, but it did not impose new nationwide martial law in May 2014 for a political crisis. Malaysia faced political issues but did not resort to this specific measure at that time. Vietnam is a one party state with firm control by its government, and no similar martial law declaration in May 2014 matches this description. Indonesia was moving through democratic consolidation and elections, not nationwide martial law imposed by the military.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent error is to confuse older instances of martial law in the Philippines with this more recent event in Thailand. Another mistake is to pick any South East Asian country without matching the date and clear description of a political crisis leading to martial law. Always link each clue in the question with known historical events before choosing an option.

Final Answer:
The country where the military imposed martial law amid a political crisis in May 2014 was Thailand.