Thailand PM’s China Visit Aims to Strengthen Ties Amid Safety Concerns
BANGKOK, THAILAND – In a bid to strengthen bilateral ties and address growing safety concerns, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra embarked on a four-day visit to China this week. The trip, which comes amid a recent high-profile abduction of a Chinese actor from Thailand, aims to reassure China that Thailand is committed to ensuring the safety of Chinese tourists.
The visit, which began on Tuesday, saw Paetongtarn meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other top officials in Beijing. According to sources, the talks focused on strengthening economic ties, enhancing security cooperation, and addressing concerns over cross-border online scamming centers.
Safety Concerns Take Center Stage
The recent abduction of Chinese actor Wang Xing from Thailand has sparked widespread concern in China, with many calling for greater action to ensure the safety of Chinese tourists. Wang, who was lured to Thailand with promises of a film role, was kidnapped and taken to a scam center in Myanmar, where he was forced to work.
The incident has highlighted the growing problem of cross-border online scamming centers, which have become a major concern for both Thailand and China. According to reports, many of these centers are operated by Chinese criminal syndicates in Southeast Asia, with Thailand and Myanmar being key hotspots.
Cooperation on Security and Economy
In a bid to address these concerns, Paetongtarn and Xi agreed to strengthen security cooperation, including the establishment of anti-scam centers in Thailand. The two leaders also discussed ways to enhance economic ties, including increasing trade and investment between the two countries.
“Thailand and China have a long history of cooperation, and we are committed to strengthening our ties in all areas,” Paetongtarn said in a statement. “We understand the concerns of the Chinese government and people, and we are committed to working together to address them.”
China’s Growing Influence in Southeast Asia
The visit comes amid growing concerns over China’s increasing influence in Southeast Asia. China has been actively promoting its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in the region, which aims to promote economic cooperation and development through infrastructure development.
Thailand, which has been a key player in the BRI, has been seeking to balance its relationships with both China and the United States. The country has been a long-standing ally of the US, but has also been seeking to strengthen its economic ties with China.
Analysts’ Views
Analysts say that the visit is a significant step forward in strengthening ties between Thailand and China. “The visit shows that Thailand is committed to strengthening its relationships with China, and that it is willing to work together to address concerns over safety and security,” said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.
However, others have expressed concerns over the growing influence of China in Southeast Asia. “China’s increasing influence in the region is a concern for many countries, and Thailand needs to be careful not to compromise its sovereignty and independence,” said Mark S. Cogan, associate professor of peace and conflict studies at Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Japan.
Conclusion
Paetongtarn’s visit to China marks a significant step forward in strengthening ties between the two countries. While concerns over safety and security remain, the visit shows that Thailand is committed to working together with China to address these concerns. As China’s influence in Southeast Asia continues to grow, Thailand will need to carefully balance its relationships with both China and the US.
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EXCERPT
Thailand PM’s China visit aims to allay safety concerns
Tommy Walker in BangkokThai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s four-day visit to China this week comes amid acute concerns over cross-border online scamming centers and tourist safety.
In talks with China’s leadership this week, including President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is expected to emphasize that Thailand is on board with increasing security and doing more to make Chinese tourists feel safe.
China is Thailand’s top trading partner, and its biggest inbound tourism market. But a recent high-profile abduction of a Chinese actor from Thailand has spooked many Chinese tourists.
In January, actor Wang Xing flew to Bangkok for what he thought was a casting call. Instead, he was picked up at the airport and driven across the border to Myawaddy, Myanmar and forced to work in a cyber-scam center.
Wang was rescued by Thai authorities four days after he disappeared in January, but the case has since caused a huge stir in China and worldwide, prompting both Thai and Chinese officials to promise further action.
Actor Wang Xing (r) seen in Thailand after being rescued from a Myanmar scam centerActor Wang Xing (r) seen in Thailand after being rescued from a Myanmar scam center
Wang Xing’s head was shaved when he was abducted and brought to a scam center in Myanmar
Image: The Royal Thai Police/AP Photo/picture allianceMost of these telecom and internet scam centers are operated by Chinese criminal syndicates in Southeast Asia and are particularly rife in Myanmar and Cambodia. Many of the victims are Chinese, and are trafficked via Thailand.
“The scammers are a big deal for Thailand because scam centers are threatening Thailand’s tourism and hospitality industries. Scam centers are bad news, and Chinese tourists are a big intake,” Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, told DW.
Chinese tourism is vital for Thailand’s economy, with over 6 million arrivals in 2024.
But the impact of Wang’s trafficking saw Chinese visitors cancel their trips to Thailand for Lunar New Year.
This was despite Thailand’s tourism bureau taking steps to publish a press release in Mandarin in January, reassuring Chinese nationals that “Thailand attaches great importance to the safety of tourists.”
Thailand still predicts there will be 9 million Chinese arrivals this year, which will be nearly a quarter of total international arrivals forecasted for 2025.
Chinese passengers wearing masks received at Bangkok airportChinese passengers wearing masks received at Bangkok airport
Thailand welcomed Chinese tourists after pandemic restrictions were lifted in 2023
Image: Sakchai Lalit/AP/picture alliance
Teaming up to fight crimePravit Rojanaphruk, a Thai journalist and political observer, says Thailand will focus on reassuring China this week that its citizens are safe in the country.
“Thailand is very sensitive to any negative perception about its country, particularly from the Chinese point of view, as they constitute the largest group of foreign tourists to Thailand. The Thai prime minister hopes that President Xi would be able to help restore confidence among some Chinese,” he told DW.
There is already cooperation on combating crime, with Bangkok and Beijing planning to set up anti-scam centers. It is reported Chinese authorities will operate one such center in the Thai-Myanmar border city, Mae Sot.
Thailand has also helped transfer about 900 Chinese nationals who had been trapped in scam operations in Myanmar last year, but the number of Chinese nationals still missing is thought to be much higher.
Nikorndej Balankura, a Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson, said in January that combating cross-border crimes is a “national priority.”
Myanmar is also entering its fifth year of civil war, which has created a security vacuum. China is heavily invested in Myanmar and has tried to intervene and mediate ceasefires, as well as backing both the junta and the resistance, without success.
“For China it is about ensuring that Thailand is still part of the geo-strategic chessboard, the Belt and Road Initiative. I think China has a big headache with Myanmar, so it is much more important now to get Thailand to stay on board,” he told DW.
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Building closer trade tiesDeepening economic ties is also expected to be on the agenda in light of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs targeting China.
Mark S. Cogan, associate professor of peace and conflict studies at Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Japan, told DW that Paetongtarn will try and avoid the thorny topic of Trump’s tariffs on Chinese goods.
In January, officials in Thailand and Malaysia indicated they would prevent Chinese businesses trying to circumvent US tariffs by shipping goods through their countries, the South China Morning Post reported.
“The economy is an important issue for both as I expect both to soon feel the economic headwinds from Trump’s transactional approach to trade,” Cogan said.
“Trade between China and Thailand has never been greater and in the absence of alternatives, the news that both Thailand and Malaysia plan to back Trump’s trade war with China is contentious at best. In a face-to-face with Xi, this isn’t something I’d expect Paetongtarn to be comfortable with,” he added.
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Source: Inestopedia
