Category: The Bangkok Post

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul will pay an official visit to China from July 16-20 at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

Talks will focus on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, artificial intelligence, advanced technology and security as the two countries seek to deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership.

Government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek said the visit marks another milestone as the two countries celebrate the 51st anniversary of diplomatic ties.

The five-day visit will take Mr Anutin to Shanghai, Chengdu and Beijing.

In Shanghai, the prime minister is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Chinese President Xi Jinping and to attend the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC 2026) at the president’s invitation.

In Chengdu, Mr Anutin will preside over the opening of the Thailand-China (Sichuan) Investment and Economic Forum 2026 and inaugurate the investment section of Thailand’s Consulate-General in Chengdu, with the aim of expanding Thailand’s investment promotion network into western China.

He is also expected to meet leading Chinese companies and Thai business executives operating in China to promote trade and investment cooperation.

In Beijing, Mr Anutin will hold full bilateral talks with Premier Li and meet Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress.

The two governments are also expected to witness the signing of a series of bilateral agreements covering trade, investment, agriculture, public health, science, technology, education and media cooperation.

According to the government, the visit aims to strengthen cooperation in emerging sectors, including artificial intelligence, science, innovation and future industries, while expanding collaboration on regional security, transnational cybercrime and online fraud.

Ms Rachada said the trip reflects the close relationship between Thailand and China as comprehensive strategic partners and major trading partners.

It will also help to create new economic opportunities, enhance Thailand’s competitiveness and improve the well-being of both countries’ citizens, the spokesperson added.

Separately, Deputy Government Spokesperson Capt Phattharatsami Thongsaluay said the cabinet has approved five draft cooperation agreements on higher education, science, research and innovation.

Three policemen in Pattaya have been transferred to inactive posts for allegedly collecting off-the-books fines from Kuwaiti motorcyclists who violated traffic rules.

Pol Lt Col Kosala Ngampong, the acting Pattaya police chief, has sidelined a senior sergeant major, a sergeant major and a sergeant pending an investigation by a committee of senior officers at the station, according to local reports.

The moves followed a complaint from a group of Kuwaiti tourists who said they were frequent visitors to the tourist city in Chon Buri.

They told reporters on Tuesday that they often visited Pattaya and rode motorcycles in ways that they acknowledged could breach traffic rules.

When they were caught, the same group of three policemen usually showed up to fine them at high rates of 2,500 to 5,000 baht, the visitors said, adding that there were two to five such arrests each night over the past month.

The Kuwaiti tourists said they had to pay the fines; otherwise, their motorcycles would be confiscated.

However, they said, the policemen usually fined them in deserted areas and had another man receive the money from them. The officers accepted cash only and prohibited them from paying fines at the police station.

Moreover, the Kuwaitis said they were surprised to find out later that the ‘receipts’ they were given were nothing more than the simple cash receipts that old-fashioned grocers use.

Public complaints about Kuwaiti motorcyclists in Pattaya have been a recurring issue, mostly to do with reckless driving, stunts, street racing at all hours and loud modified exhaust systems.

The frequency of violations prompted Pattaya City Police to hold meetings with Kuwaiti Embassy representatives to curb the disturbances and educate visitors about local traffic laws.

The government has ordered stricter nationwide oversight of electric vehicle (EV) sales, requiring dealers to provide complete and accurate product information as the EV market continues to expand and consumers increasingly purchase high-value vehicles.

Prime Minister’s Office Minister Supamas Isarabhakdi, who oversees the Office of the Consumer Protection Board, said she has instructed OCPB secretary-general Ronnarong Phoolpipat to intensify nationwide inspections of EV sales.

Under the directive, EV labels and key information are displayed accurately, completely and in compliance with legal requirements.

Authorities must also conduct regular inspections of showrooms and sales outlets, beginning in Bangkok and surrounding provinces before expanding to other regions.

Businesses found violating the regulations or providing incomplete information will face legal action.

Ms Supamas said the initiative supports the government’s consumer protection policy with particular emphasis on high-value products that have significant long-term financial implications for consumers.

She noted that the growing popularity of EVs makes it increasingly important for buyers to receive comprehensive information before making purchasing decisions.

Required disclosures include vehicle specifications, battery performance, battery warranty periods and conditions, as well as other information mandated by law.

The OCPB will also work closely with the Thai Industrial Standards Institute and the Department of Land Transport to lift disclosure standards covering both product certification and vehicle registration.

“Consumers must receive complete, accurate and non-misleading information so they can compare products and make informed decisions,” Ms Supamas said.

Complaints may be filed via the OCPB’s 1166 hotline, the OCPB Connect mobile app, its website or provincial complaint centres.

The Commerce Ministry’s proposed 40-baht rice-and-curry scheme has come under fire, with critics saying its benefits would be limited and that it would amount to a stopgap measure rather than a long-term growth policy.

However, on Monday, no representative from the Ministry of Commerce came out to defend the matter.

Voravongsa Ramangkura, a former vice-minister of commerce, said rising food prices are caused by higher costs across the production chain, including raw materials, electricity, cooking gas, fuel, transport, labour and financing.

If the government does not reduce these underlying costs, subsidising restaurants will not solve the problem at its source, he said. He expressed concerns that the scheme could encourage restaurants to adapt their operations to qualify for government subsidies rather than compete by improving quality.

Some participating restaurants may offer only one or two dishes at the subsidised 40-baht price while reducing portion sizes, lowering food quality or switching to cheaper ingredients to keep costs within the programme’s conditions.

“In the end, people may find that only a limited number of dishes are available at 40 baht and only at participating restaurants. At the same time, the quantity or quality of the food may decline,” Mr Voravongsa said. “The businesses receive direct financial support from the government, while consumers receive only indirect and temporary benefits. That raises the question of who truly benefits from the scheme — the public or the participating restaurants.”

Criticism is growing as the Commerce Ministry prepares to seek cabinet approval for the programme under which participating restaurants would sell meals for no more than 40 baht. The programme aims to recruit 100,000 restaurants and provide each with subsidies of 3,000-10,000 baht. It is intended to complement the Thai Help Thai Plus co-payment programme and is expected to begin in August.

Mr Voravongsa also warned that the subsidy could distort the market by creating an uneven playing field between restaurants participating in the programme and those operating without government assistance.

He said the economic problem is about weak household purchasing power and persistently high production costs across the economy.

The government’s priority should be to lower business costs, raise household incomes and create conditions that support sustainable economic growth rather than introducing project-based price subsidies, he said.

He also questioned the effectiveness of several Commerce Ministry initiatives, saying they have so far produced no tangible results in supporting prices or strengthening farmers’ bargaining power.

Mr Voravongsa also said there are no major new policies from the commerce minister that clearly generated positive economic impacts beyond the ministry’s routine work.

People’s Party deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakun said many of the Commerce Ministry’s programmes benefit only a limited number of people despite using public funds. She cited previous initiatives, including the Blue Flag scheme and mobile grocery trucks, saying that their limited budgets meant relatively few consumers benefited.

Ms Sirikanya said the proposal appears more like a PR exercise than a policy addressing people’s cost-of-living problems.

All 50 district offices in Bangkok have been ordered to review records of birth registrations dating back to 2017, focusing on children born in private hospitals that have been linked to the ‘fake fathers’ scandal.

District offices must submit their findings by July 27, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said on Tuesday while detailing the operation to prevent the scheme that helped Chinese families obtain Thai birth certificates by recruiting Thai men to sign up as fathers.

Authorities have arrested 32 suspects out of 35 warrants issued so far, including suspected fake fathers, Chinese mothers and registration-related personnel.

Pol Gen Samran Nualma, a deputy national police chief, has said more than 500 foreign children may have been falsely registered, with five private hospitals in Bangkok allegedly involved in facilitating the process.

Following the reports, urgent actions have taken place on several fronts in the capital, Mr Chadchart said.

A major task force has been established, and it has inspected a total of 31 of 50 districts since June 2.

The task force addressed improper practices related to civil registration and national identification card issuance. Initial findings have not uncovered any fraudulent birth registrations similar to those previously discovered in Thon Buri district.

A comprehensive audit has been ordered to review records of birth registrations and birth certificate issuance involving foreign mothers and Thai fathers over the past nine years.

Findings due to be reported by July 27 must cover the number of birth registrations and birth certificates issued each year; the completeness and accuracy of supporting documents and registrars’ procedures; and verification of Thai fathers’ records, including how many children they have and whether those children were born to the same or different mothers, in order to detect anomalies.

If any suspicious cases or improper conduct are identified, authorities will pursue legal action and take disciplinary measures in accordance with Ministry of Interior guidelines without exception, the governor said.

Mr Chadchart said supervisors in every district office must closely review the work of registration officials each time a birth certificate is issued. Officials must exercise judgement and assess the plausibility of the information provided in order to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes, he added.

One alleged financier of the network, Chinese national Chen Yin Lai, was arrested in 2024 on money laundering charges linked to a call-centre scam. His wife reportedly left Thailand with their three children – all of whom held Thai nationality – and remains overseas.

The arrested suspects were being questioned at the Bang Yi Ruea police station in Thon Buri.

According to the Institute for Population and Social Research and the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (Thai Health), Thailand has a population of approximately 66 million with an average life expectancy of 75.6 years.

However, the health-adjusted life expectancy — the average number of years a person can expect to live in full health — is around only 68 years. This means Thai people often face six to 10 years of illnesses before death.

To raise awareness and encourage people to improve their health, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation partnered with Manoot Tang Wai (People of Different Generations), Bangkok Life Assurance, National Human Rights Commission and network partners to host a recent forum titled “As Thais Live Longer, Why Is Their Health Declining?” at Impact Exhibition Center, Muang Thong Thani.

Prof Piyamitr Sritara, president of Mahidol University, explained that advances in medical technology allow doctors to cure illnesses that were once fatal. For example, patients with lung cancer, who in the past would die within six months, can extend their lives by several years. Advanced technology has also turned cancer into a chronic condition.

Prof Piyamitr noted that while technology extends lifespan, it often leaves people in a frail stage for a long time before they die. This brings high medical expenses and a low quality of life. Since nobody wants to be in that condition, people should improve the number of years they live or can expect to live in reasonably good health.

Dr Pongthep Wongwatcharapaiboon, manager of Thai Health, revealed that the life expectancy average of Thais stands at 77.06 years, ranking 101st out of 200 countries on the Worldometer.

“Although Thailand’s average life expectancy is reported to be 77 years, this average includes infants and children who die aged under five years. Therefore, the actual life expectancy for adults is higher,” said Prof Piyamitr.

“If the average life expectancy is 85 years and people have to use a wheelchair at the age of 75, they do not have good quality of life. It would be better if people could be active and mobile until age 84 and then die at age 85.

“Quality life years are determined by two main factors: genetics and lifestyle. While people cannot change their genetics, they can improve their lifestyle, such as keeping a healthy diet and regular exercise.”

When asked about the healthcare system factor, Prof Piyamitr compared Thailand to the United States. He said Thailand’s universal healthcare provides underprivileged people better access to healthcare services than the US system, even though the US spends much more on its healthcare.

“It is astonishing that Thailand’s ranking is lower than half of the countries in the world. Our healthspan and lifespan are on average lower than many other countries,” said Dr Pongthep.

“Unlike other nations, many children in Thailand die from drowning while youngsters die from motorcycle accidents due to not wearing helmets.

“These early deaths drag down the country’s average life expectancy. Adults also tend to develop drinking and smoking habits which often lead to cancer or stroke.”

Dr Pongthep noted that while doctors in the past fought against infectious diseases with vaccines and antibiotics, today’s healthspan enemy is people themselves.

He explained that Thais enjoy consuming sweet, oily and salty food and marketing campaigns encourage people to consume such unhealthy food, which can lead to non-communicable disease (NCD).

Prof Piyamitr pointed out that the NCD situation is serious and an increasing number of people are developing weight issues, particularly abdominal obesity.

“NCD treatments cost Thailand up to 1.6 trillion baht, which is a massive amount for the national budget. The most significant condition in the NCD group is cardiovascular disease. How quickly our blood vessels deteriorate depends on these key risk factors: diabetes, high blood pressure or abdominal obesity,” explained Prof Piyamitr.

“According to the Thai National Health Examination Survey in 2024-2025, the obesity rate among Thais aged 15 and older has increased to 45%, with abdominal obesity at 44.7%. Half of the obese population in Thailand are of working age.”

Prof Piyamitr shared a few examples which showed that Thailand faces health literacy issues.

“In Japan, it is difficult to find tea with sugar in vending machines, while in Thailand, it is difficult to find sugar-free drinks in vending machines,” he said.

“To promote health, I convinced a major convenience store chain to sell low-sugar yoghurt, but it could not sell. The convenience store chain had to include syrup with the yoghurt, so that it would sell. I also persuaded a large manufacturer to produce low-sodium instant noodles, but it did not sell either.

“This highlights issues of Thailand’s health literacy. If Thailand can successfully improve health literacy, consumers will make the right dietary choices and manufacturers will adapt to produce healthier products.”

As the manager of Thai Health, which promotes many campaigns to fight against unhealthy food, Dr Pongthep explained that changing consumer behaviour requires more than just public campaigns.

Healthy or unhealthy habits are formed before the age of six. Children learn dietary preferences from their parents. If parents are obese, their children are likely to be obese as well.

“Thai Health partnered with the Excise Department to implement and increase the sugar-sweetened beverage tax. Consumers will shift to choose zero-sugar and low-sugar drinks when they have a lower price. However, the implementation of a sodium tax on snacks has been delayed. Promoting health literacy requires collaboration from all sectors of society,” said Dr Pongthep.

He warned that physical inactivity is most dangerous because regular exercise builds muscles and burns energy. Keeping physically active keeps people from becoming bedridden.

“People aged 90 who are still active and mobile are usually slim and muscular. On the other hand, people aged 70 in a wheelchair are often chubby and lack muscle mass. To stay healthy, people should walk up to 10,000 steps or 5km a day or at least 6,000 steps or 3km per day,” Prof Piyamitr added.

“It is never too late to start exercising to build up muscles as it is always beneficial. Building muscles helps people to stay independent and not rely on others. People should enjoy a good quality of life for as long as possible, rather than just living long, but without a good quality of life.”

The government and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) have pledged closer cooperation to improve the quality of life of Bangkok residents, focusing on transport, public safety, urban development and environmental management.

Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Monday, after presiding over the opening of the first session of the Bangkok Metropolitan Council, that the government would reaffirm its support for the BMA’s efforts to develop Bangkok into a world-class metropolis through closer cooperation between the city’s legislative and executive branches.

Mr Anutin said he and Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt met on Sunday to discuss joint initiatives, noting that Bangkok plays a crucial role in national administration and that many of the BMA’s policies align with those of the government.

He said the partnership would focus on improving public safety and convenience while cutting travel costs by expanding public transport capacity, lowering electric train and bus fares, introducing a common ticketing system, and improving transport links between Bangkok and neighbouring provinces by road, rail and water.

Mr Anutin said he was confident the initiatives could be completed within the current government’s term and Mr Chadchart’s tenure, adding that Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn had been briefed on the proposed direction and that the government was ready to provide full support.

The two sides also agreed to make better use of underutilised state land owned by agencies including the State Railway of Thailand, the Expressway Authority of Thailand and the Treasury Department. The areas would be developed into public parks, sports and community spaces, as well as areas for small-scale vendors.

They will also cooperate on flood prevention, tackling air pollution from open burning, reducing fossil fuel use, easing traffic congestion, and improving Bangkok’s electricity and water supply systems.

Mr Anutin said the government would support projects proposed by the governor that are consistent with national policy, with the shared goal of improving residents’ quality of life.

Mr Phiphat said the Common Ticketing Act and the Rail Transport Act had completed the legislative process. The government aims to launch the common ticketing system within this year, with fares capped at 45 baht.

The Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) has arrested three additional suspects linked to a Chinese scam syndicate accused of tricking a 19-year-old university student into emptying his mother’s safe before laundering the stolen assets through cryptocurrency.

CCIB commissioner Pol Lt Gen Surapol Prembutr said the arrests bring the number of key suspects detained in the case to four.

The three suspects — Zheng Likul, Suda and Houxi Zhou — were allegedly involved in converting stolen cash into digital assets and transferring the proceeds to other members of the network. Zhou allegedly transferred US$218,350, worth more than 7.2 million baht.

The case began on Nov 19 last year when scammers posing as government officials contacted the student, sent forged documents and threatened him with prosecution. They then forced him to remain on a video call while he removed gold bars, jewellery and other valuables from his mother’s safe.

Investigators said the gang operated through separate teams responsible for making fraudulent calls, collecting stolen assets, selling them and converting the proceeds into cryptocurrency.

The investigation previously led to the arrest of Qin Hao, a 31-year-old Chinese national. Authorities recovered part of the stolen property, including gold and vehicles worth about 3.5 million baht. Searches of two houses in Pathum Thani also uncovered more than 11 million baht worth of assets, including a Mercedes-Benz S500e.

Police said Zheng and Suda were charged with money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Researchers collaborating with Biotec have found that a bacterium carried by pigs has become resistant to antibiotics and caused death in laboratory mice during experimental testing.

The number of human infections is also likely to increase, the researchers warned.

Speaking at a seminar organised by the National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (Biotec), Parichart Boueroy, a researcher from the Faculty of Public Health at Kasetsart University, said her team collected Streptococcus suis (S. suis) bacteria from infected patients to study virulence, focusing on strains found only in Thailand.

The strains are ST 233 and ST 104, which fall under the country’s dominant Serotype 2 strain, accounting for 93.4% of cases nationwide.

The bacterial sub-strains were injected into mice to test virulence.

The study found that the mortality rates of ST 233 and ST 104 in mice were 80% to 100% within 48 hours of infection due to septicaemia, a severe bloodstream infection.

Similar results were seen with S. suis Serotype 14, while S. suis Serotype 31 caused intermediate mortality after 42 hours.

Anusak Kerdsin, a leading molecular microbiologist at Kasetsart University’s Faculty of Public Health, said the country’s first case of S. suis was detected in two patients living in Bangkok in 1987, followed by a cluster of 10 fatalities in Lamphun province in 2000.

Mr Anusak said that since 1987, 1,798 people have been infected with the deadly bacterial strains. The disease prevalence is around 0.97 per 100,000 population.

Mr Anusak said that consuming dishes containing raw pork is the main cause of S. suis infection in humans in Thailand.

Serotype 2 is the predominant strain causing human infections, followed by Serotype 4 (5.2%).

He also found the strains have undergone a dynamic shift over time.

The study found an association between ST1, ST104, ST233, and ST1688 and meningitis, sepsis, and infective endocarditis.

He said the study also discovered that CC233 and CC1688 are the predominant strains resistant to penicillin and ceftriaxone.

“We need further study on why the country is a major hub of S. suis,” he said.

“But at least our study will help raise awareness about the dangers of consuming raw meat. Although the bacteria is harmful to health, it can easily be destroyed by heat.”

He added the research would help pig farmers adopt a hygienic approach to farming to prevent disease transmission from animals to people.

Authorities have widened their investigation into a transnational drug network linked to Thai Airways flight attendant Meena Kondo and tightened airport screening of airline crews.

Justice Minister Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon Naowarat said the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) and Narcotics Suppression Bureau had intensified their investigations, with police identifying several more suspects linked to the operation.

Airports of Thailand (AoT) has strengthened security, particularly for airline personnel travelling overseas. The measures include deploying more sniffer dogs, expanding the use of screening equipment and conducting random inspections of crew luggage.

Authorities are also monitoring social media pages offering parcel-carrying services to identify airline employees who may be acting as couriers.

Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon said the measures should have little effect on ordinary travellers, whose screening procedures would remain unchanged.

Airline crews, however, were likely to face closer scrutiny because previous operational exemptions had created security gaps.

ONCB Secretary-General Pol Maj Suriya Singhakamol said investigations into Ms Meena’s case and separate cannabis-smuggling operations targeting Australia and Taiwan had led to several arrests.

Those arrested included Lao and Thai nationals, couriers and people awaiting deliveries overseas. Investigators had also traced the heroin shipment to its suspected owner, who had fled Thailand, he said.

Pol Maj Suriya said the network had not been completely dismantled. The Royal Thai Police, ONCB and Department of Special Investigation were continuing efforts to identify other suspects.

Asked whether further arrests could help Ms Meena’s case, including by reducing any sentence she might face in Australia, he said Australian proceedings were independent.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Court recently denied bail to Ekkawit Yongnichakul, who is accused of delivering the elephant-pattern suitcase used to conceal the heroin.

The court cited the seriousness of the alleged offences, the organised nature of the operation, the quantity of drugs involved and the risk of flight in ordering him detained pending trial.