Category: The Bangkok Post

A social media post by the Chinese ambassador to Cambodia has stirred up a storm of criticism from Thais after he reaffirmed Beijing’s unwavering support for Phnom Penh in ‘safeguarding its sovereignty’.

On his official Facebook page on Wednesday, Wang Wenbin posted a picture of himself speaking at a lectern at an event in Phnom Penh, accompanied by the statement: ‘China firmly supports Cambodia in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and development interests, and will always be a reliable partner in Cambodia’s development.’

On the surface, it’s a generic statement of the type that people expect from a diplomat in the country where he is posted. But an expression like ‘safeguarding its national sovereignty’ is a red flag for the neighbours when there’s a border dispute going on.

Mr Wang’s post quickly drew strong criticism from Thai netizens, many of whom flooded his page with comments questioning Beijing’s stance amid ongoing tensions between Thailand and Cambodia.

One Facebook user asked whether President Xi Jinping himself would agree with such a statement in the context of disputes between Cambodia and Thailand.

Another suggested the ambassador was obliged to take such a line, saying: ‘If you are in Cambodia, of course you must post like this. If you don’t, Hun Sen will be upset.’

Another poster wrote sarcastically, ‘Okay, I already know who supplied weapons to the Khmer,’ referring to a recent debate over whether Beijing was arming Cambodia for a new fight. Even Thai officials acknowledged that the weapons in question were delivered long before the latest hostilities began.

Some Thai netizens went further, accusing Cambodia of harbouring call-centre scams that defraud victims worldwide of billions of baht. Others argued that Thailand has never invaded another country’s territory, but has instead defended its sovereignty without targeting civilians, hospitals or innocent lives.

One user wrote, ‘Thailand is not going to be a battlefield of a powerful country. However, Thailand has its own dignity to protect its sovereignty and land.’

‘Many Thais have lost family members in cross-border violence, and our soldiers have been maimed,’ another person wrote. ‘Meanwhile, Cambodia has become a hub for scams and illegal activities. Is this really the country that China wants to stand behind?’

‘Thailand must prioritise its own national interests and sovereignty. Any nation such as China that supports activities undermining our territorial integrity or regional peace should be approached with caution,’ said another commenter.

‘It’s time for Thailand to pursue a more balanced foreign policy, one that protects our independence, transparency and long-term security.’

The Chinese ambassador’s post unsurprisingly drew praise from Cambodian netizens. One user wrote: ‘On behalf of Cambodian citizens, I would like to extend my profound thanks and gratitude to the Chinese citizens and government for jointly seeking peace for Cambodia and still being a reliable partner in Cambodia’s development.’

Another netizen wrote, ‘Cambodia never shies away from supporting China so we hope China supports Cambodia more against the aggressive invader.’

As of 11.20am on Thursday, Mr Wang’s post had attracted about 5,100 views, 897 comments and 963 shares.

Phuket International Airport reopened its main runway on Wednesday afternoon, three hours after a Royal Thai Navy aircraft experienced a landing gear malfunction and blocked the runway.

The belly landing by the Cessna T-337 Skymaster, which the Navy said was on a routine patrol, happened at 11.18am. There were no injuries.

The incident prompted an immediate emergency response to remove the aircraft and to thoroughly inspect the surface. Airport officials initially said the runway would be closed until 3pm.

The recovery operation was carried out by Navy pilots, aircraft technicians and Phuket airport officials. The airport drained the aircraft’s fuel and arranged for lifting equipment to remove the plane.

The aircraft was successfully moved off the runway at 1.49pm. After cleaning up the oil stains, the runway was reopened at 2.30 pm.

The closure affected a total of 70 flights, airport officials said in a statement.

The House of Representatives made good progress in pushing for the long-awaited amnesty bill this month. The bill, which is now known as the “peace-building legislation”, was submitted early this month to the Lower House.

It aims to grant an amnesty to those who are charged or penalised for their political activities. The second and third readings are expected before the parliamentary session ends later this month. The scrutiny can also resume when the House reconvenes in early December. The bill has a chance to become law before the Lower House is dissolved early next year.

This bill is inclusive, as it incorporates proposals from various parties and civic groups. However, it still excludes offences related to the sensitive Section 112, also known as the lese majeste law.

Essentially, the bill seeks to erase offenders’ criminal records once they are granted an amnesty. This draft law also adjusts the time frame for politically motivated offences, such as political protest campaigns, to cover incidents that occurred from 2003 to July of this year, rather than the 2003-2022 duration.

This draft law also prevents state agencies and enterprises from seeking compensation resulting from the actions of offenders.

Interestingly, the bill aims to extend the list of offences to cover cases involving religious crimes, as well as breaches of laws governing parties and elections, including those involving members of parliament and senators. However, the amnesty will not cover those guilty of poll fraud, including lying about qualifications to make themselves eligible as election candidates, violating the Referendum Act, and a series of executive orders issued by juntas.

Under the legislation, a nine-member panel will be formed to review individual lawsuits. The panel’s decision will be considered final. With the prime minister as chairman, the panel will comprise various sectors and ministries, such as the justice minister, the secretary-general of the National Human Rights Commission, including human rights experts, and a civil society specialist in conflict resolution.

At a glance, several clauses of the bill offer hope that the dream of political reconciliation is approaching. Yet the elephant in the room is that Section 112 is excluded from amnesty.

Without an update, Section 112 — along with its loopholes and disproportionate sentences — will only widen the division and invite criticism against the monarchy that this law is meant to protect.

The People’s Party has been lobbying parliament to include lese majeste offenders under 18 years old charged under this legislation, but such prospects are quite dim, as not many parties, and above all, the Upper House, support the idea.

By overlooking this, parliament appears to fall short in its support for real and meaningful political reconciliation.

However, for the past 15 years, successive parliaments have attempted to pass an amnesty law. Now that the chance has finally arrived, lawmakers must seize the opportunity to make the amnesty law attain its noble and ambitious goal.

Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn yesterday inspected Surat Thani Airport and outlined policies aimed at transforming the province into a tourism gateway to the Gulf of Thailand.

The policies focus on improving transport infrastructure, expanding international flight connections, and addressing traffic congestion and flood problems.

Mr Phiphat toured the passenger terminal, public transport facilities, and CIQ (Customs-Immigration-Quarantine) area to assess the airport’s readiness to take the growing number of domestic and international travellers. The Department of Airports briefed him on plans to upgrade the facility.

He highlighted Surat Thani’s strategic importance as a major southern hub on the Gulf coast, home to world-renowned islands such as Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan, and Koh Tao. “Tourism in Surat Thani is expanding rapidly, particularly with the increasing number of foreign visitors,” he said.

“Upgrading Surat Thani Airport will create seamless connectivity between air, land, and local public transport systems, enabling smoother, safer, and faster travel for both residents and tourists.”

The minister instructed the Department of Airports to coordinate with foreign airlines, particularly those from China, to attract direct flights to Surat Thani.

He said the ministry is promoting “quality tourism” rather than mass “zero-dollar tours”, to ensure tourism benefits are distributed to local communities and support a sustainable grassroots economy.

“I want Surat Thani to serve as the main tourism gateway to the Gulf of Thailand — welcoming visitors from around the world, not merely as an alternative to Phuket, but as a destination in its own right where both Thais and foreigners can travel conveniently,” Mr Phiphat said.

He also addressed measures to tackle flood and traffic issues during his visit.

The Thai army has announced it will begin mine sweeping in border villages in the eastern province of Sa Kaeo on Friday, which is also the deadline authorities have set for Cambodians to leave the area.

The First Army Area said on Thursday that its Burapa Task Force had informed the commander of Cambodia’s 51st Infantry Division that it would start to collect landmines in Ban Nong Chan and Ban Nong Ya Kaeo villages in Khok Sung district of Sa Kaeo on Friday.

‘The mine sweeping is aimed at securing a safe environment in Ban Nong Chan and Ban Nong Ya Kaeo, which are in Thai territory, to support authorities’ operations in protecting sovereignty and the peaceful lives of Thai people,’ the First Army Area said in a statement.

The information was also intended to prevent misunderstanding and information distortion by Cambodia, the statement said.

The Burapa Task Force said the mine-sweeping plan was based on the agreement Cambodia and Thailand made on landmine clearance in their General Border Committee meeting in Koh Kong province of Cambodia on Sept 10.

Evacuation deadline

Sa Kaeo governor Parinya Phothisat, meanwhile, on Wednesday reaffirmed the Oct 10 deadline that he had announced last month for Cambodians to leave Ban Nong Chan and Ban Nong Ya Kaeo.

If Cambodia ignored the deadline, the governor said he would not negotiate with the Cambodian side any longer.

Thailand allowed Cambodian refugees to take shelter in the two border communities while fleeing massacres during the Cambodian civil war over four decades ago. Dozens of families from Cambodia have settled there permanently.

On Thursday Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the Sa Kaeo governor was responsible for the evacuation of Cambodians from the Thai villages. The armed forces would take action in accordance with martial law imposed along the border with Cambodia, he added.

In the encroached villages, administrative, police and forestry officials also shared responsibility in relation to their respective areas of authority, the prime minister said.

In a related development, activist Guntouch Pongpaiboonwet said he would place 60 containers to form a border barrier in Ban Nong Chan on Friday.

Mr Guntouch, also known as Gun Jompalang, has built a large online following as a crusader on behalf of people seeking justice. Lately he has turned his attention to whipping up ultra-nationalist sentiment.

In August he brought a convoy of 14 septic tankers to the border village, suggesting he would spray their contents at Cambodian protesters on the opposite side of a barbed wire barrier if they got out of hand.

Danilo Yavhushyshyn fled the war in his native Ukraine to follow his dream of becoming a professional sumo wrestler in Japan and has taken the ancient sport by storm.

The 21-year-old competed in the world junior sumo championships as a teenager but left Ukraine after Russia’s February 2022 invasion.

He arrived in Japan two months later and made a blistering start to his career, reaching sumo’s upper divisions in only a year and winning promotion to the fourth-highest rank.

He took his bid to win a first title down to the final day of the July tournament and has twice beaten one of sumo’s two current grand masters.

Now known as Aonishiki and speaking fluent Japanese, he told reporters in Tokyo on Thursday that he wants to be the first European to reach sumo’s highest rank.

‘When I joined the sumo world I was confident that I could reach the upper divisions but I didn’t think that I could do it so quickly,’ he said.

‘I’ve surprised myself. Now my goal is to become a grand master.’

Yavhushyshyn was born in central Ukraine and took up sumo at the age of seven, becoming a national champion at 17.

His age meant he narrowly avoided Ukraine’s military draft for men aged 18 and older when war broke out and he sought refuge in Germany before moving to Japan.

His parents stayed in Germany and he arrived in Japan knowing nothing of the language.

Local rivalry

Yavhushyshyn has since settled into his new home but admits he still misses Ukraine and has not been able to visit since he left.

‘Of course I would like to go back because it’s the place where I was born and raised and I still have a lot of friends and family there,’ he said.

‘If it’s possible, I’d like to go back and meet them and walk on the streets of my home town.’

Yavhushyshyn became the second Ukraine-born professional sumo wrestler when he made his debut in July 2023, following in the footsteps of compatriot Serhii Sokolovskyi, better known as Shishi.

Sokolovskyi moved to Japan before the outbreak of war and the two are now rivals in the ring.

‘Shishi gave me some advice at first but now we’re competing against each other so I don’t want to get too close to him,’ said Yavhushyshyn.

‘I don’t speak to him so often but maybe when once we’ve both retired I’ll try to be friends with him.’

Yavhushyshyn’s promotion to sumo’s upper divisions was the fifth fastest since the current system of six tournaments a year was introduced in 1958.

He scalped one of the sport’s grand masters in only his 12th tournament and has a winning record in every competition he has appeared in so far.

He seems set for a successful career in the sport but admits that things do not always go to plan.

‘Human beings are weak and they have times where they feel tired or they feel down, but I know what my goal is and I always try to keep it in mind,’ he said.

‘There are tough times but I have to do my best to overcome them.’

Jeremy K. Hon, a Hong Kong-born oncologist, haematologist and author of the remarkable memoir An Impossible Life Journey, will be in town to share his powerful story during the 30th Book Expo Thailand at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Ratchadaphisek Road, on Oct 13 at 5pm.

He will take the stage at the Author’s Salon, a dedicated seminar for authors and writers of all genres and experts from various fields to showcase their work, share knowledge, ideas and valuable experiences with readers.

Born in Hong Kong to a refugee family from Southern China, Dr Hon’s life embodies resilience. He began his studies in pharmacy at National Taiwan University, but his participation in the historic Diaoyutai student protests led to a ban from Taiwan.

Refusing to give up, he moved to the US where he worked to support himself. After earning his pharmacy degree in Alabama, he pursued his studies at the School of Medicine at the University of Alabama in Birmingham and discovered his passion for oncology during his training at the renowned MD Anderson Hospital.

In 1988, Dr Hon co-founded the Clearview Cancer Institute in Huntsville, Alabama, where he became a pioneer in cancer research and treatment. His work advanced clinical trials and therapies for pancreatic, breast, lung and colorectal cancers and he also directed a stem cell programme.

Throughout his career in the US, he has remained deeply rooted in Chinese culture, drawing lifelong inspiration from Confucian values and Tang poetry — principles he credits with guiding him through both hardship and achievement.

An Impossible Life Journey, now available in Thai from Sanskritbook and Saengdao Publishing, is not only a chronicle of his personal and professional challenges but also a meditation on perseverance, cultural identity and the universal human spirit to overcome adversity.

Audiences at the book expo will have the chance to listen to his remarkable journey that took him from a refugee childhood to co-founding one of America’s leading cancer institutes. His talk promises to inspire readers, students, professionals and anyone seeking courage to face life’s challenges.

Diversifying portfolios across various asset classes is crucial for investors to navigate risks and smooth out volatility amid growing global market uncertainties, says Kasikorn Asset Management (KAsset).

“Over the years, we have faced numerous unexpected challenges, from natural disasters to global policy shifts such as the Trump tariffs and the US government shutdown,” said KAsset executive chairman Win Phromphaet, underscoring the importance of building stable and diversified portfolios that balance stability with long-term growth potential to withstand all market conditions.

“We cannot predict the market, but we can prepare our portfolios. The key lies in diversification, across both geography and asset classes, to ensure resilience against any possible scenario,” he told KAsset’s “Know the Markets Summit 2025” held jointly with JP Morgan Asset Management.

Mr Win said most Thai investors still have an overly domestic bias, with more than 95% of retirement assets concentrated in Thai equities and bonds.

“This means they are missing out on the benefits of global diversification,” he said.

“If you invested only in Thai equities this year, your portfolio might have contracted, but global diversification delivered positive returns.”

Panodphol Tantawichian, chief investment officer of KAsset, shared a similar view, noting active diversification is essential, especially amid market volatility and as Thailand’s economic indicators “remain mixed with modest growth”.

Building on its success with retail clients, KAsset expanded its core portfolio strategy to the provident fund market to help Thais achieve better retirement outcomes.

The company’s provident fund members can choose from various core portfolios tailored to different life stages, with high-risk options available for young investors, while low-risk portfolios cater to those nearing retirement, he said.

Tanandon Cholitkul, another chief investment officer at KAsset, said fixed income remains a vital tool for portfolio diversification and volatility reduction, especially during turbulent market conditions.

“A well-constructed portfolio should aim to minimise fluctuations while maximising returns,” he noted.

“We recommend a hybrid investment approach, combining Thai fixed income with selective global equities to help cushion against market swings.”

To achieve a better balance, the firm recommends an 80/20 portfolio strategy, allocating 80% to a globally diversified core portfolio and 20% to a satellite portfolio, allowing investors to overweight specific themes such as Chinese or Indian equities as well as gold based on personal outlook.

To navigate turbulent conditions, KAsset executives said a core portfolio should prove its strength during times of extreme volatility.

“If this were a football match, we are now looking to bring in fresh players to strengthen our defence and prepare for an aggressive offence. Our strategy is to be strong and smart, playing the long game,” said managing director Wajana Wongsupasawat.

The Sasin Golf Club emerged victorious at the 12th Big 4 Business Schools Golf Competition, held on October 3, 2025, at The Royal Golf and Country Club.

The annual tournament brings together a network of alumni from four leading business schools, including the Thammasat Business School Alumni Association, the Sasin Alumni Association, the NIDA Business School Alumni Association, and the Kasetsart Executive MBA Alumni Association, fostering friendship and networking among the country’s top business leaders.

The Royal Trophy was graciously bestowed by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. In keeping with the tournament’s tradition of giving back to society, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Phra Dabos Foundation.

The consumer confidence index (CCI) in September rose for the first time in eight months as consumers are optimistic about the government’s economic stimulus measures, according to the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).

Thanavath Phonvichai, president of UTCC, said the CCI increased from 50.1 in August to 50.7 in September, fuelled by positive reactions to the new cabinet ministers.

“The ‘Khon La Khrueng Plus’ co-payment scheme boosted consumer confidence, despite the Thai economy not having grown significantly. This should encourage consumer spending, reflecting the positive reception for government policies,” he said.

However, the CCI remains below 100 points, indicating that consumers see a slow economic recovery amid high living costs, said Mr Thanavath. Concerns about the trade war could potentially undermine consumer sentiment in the near term, he said.

Mr Thanavath expects improvements in the economy in the fourth quarter when the co-payment scheme becomes effective in November and December.

He said this initiative could inject 50-80 billion baht into the economy, potentially boosting GDP by 0.4-0.5 percentage points this year.

The UTCC upgraded its Thai GDP growth projection to 2% for this year, up from 1.7% previously, while predicting export growth of 6.1%, rising from 2.5%.

Private investment was revised to 1.1% growth from a projected contraction of 1.2%, and private consumption is expected to grow by 2.8%, driven by stimulus measures and increased consumption at the end of the year.

Meanwhile, several negative factors are affecting the economy, including a slowdown in tourism. Foreign tourist arrivals are projected at 33 million, down from 36 million in 2024, while tourism revenue is expected to fall from 1.69 trillion baht to 1.55 trillion.

Other factors include risks related to transshipment tariffs. Mr Thanavath said if the local content requirement is increased to 50-60%, it could lead to a decline in GDP of 0.27-0.5 percentage points within one year.

Uncertainties remain stemming from a minority government, as the anticipated dissolution of parliament within four months may make investors uneasy, he said.

Mr Thanavath said a lack of government stability could lead to a reduction in GDP of 0.75-0.9 percentage points from the baseline scenario.

In addition, fluctuations in foreign tourist numbers could affect growth. If arrivals vary from the baseline by 1 million, GDP would rise or fall by 0.25 percentage points, he said.

“It is important to monitor whether tourism and exports continue to grow, as this will determine whether Thailand’s GDP growth this year can surpass 2-2.5%,” Mr Thanavath said.

He said in addition to short-term economic fixes, the government must enhance long-term competitiveness to lift Thailand’s GDP growth to 4% in the future.