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Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow on Monday reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to peace and diplomacy following his return from the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) where he harshly responded to Cambodia’s claims about the Thai-Cambodia conflict.

He emphasised that Thailand remains open to dialogue to ease border tensions, and its position has been made clear. But he said that peace could not be achieved if it was one-sided and lacking in sincerity from Cambodia.

“We aren’t closing the door. But as I say, there are two choices — either sliding further into the conflict and losses or committing to dialogue that leads to peace and safety,” he said.

Mr Sihasak said that Thailand and Cambodia are neighbours, so they should use bilateral mechanisms to resolve the border issues without the need to bring the matter to international attention.

However, if the issue is brought up on the international stage, distorting facts is not conducive to efforts to resolve the conflict, he added.

Speaking at the UNGA’s 80th session in New York on Saturday local time, Mr Sihasak said that Cambodia continued to lie, act provocatively, violate the ceasefire agreement with Thailand and play the victim.

His remarks were in response to Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn, who alleged Cambodian civilians had been evicted from land they had lived on for decades and that an unprovoked attack had occurred near a sensitive site.

The Cambodian minister appeared to be referring to Thailand’s attempts to reclaim part of Ban Nong Chan village in Khok Sung district of Sa Kaeo province from Cambodian refugees who remained after fleeing the civil war in the 1970s.

Mr Sihasak said he believed his remarks in New York would help the international community better understand the Thai-Cambodian situation after Cambodia presented one-sided information. He added that he had to clarify Thailand’s stance because Cambodia’s statements contradicted what had been agreed in the talks.

Asked about Thailand’s next steps following his speech, Mr Sihasak said on Monday he will discuss the matter with Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and security agencies.

He admitted he is concerned about the situation, saying Thailand and Cambodia had not held further talks.

Join us for keynote speech by Youssef Nassef, Director of the Adaptation Division at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). As he shares his vision on ‘Shaping the Future of Resilience: A Vision for a Thriving Planet’.

Youssef Nassef has led the adaptation workstreams under the UNFCCC since their inception. He possesses over 30 years of experience in diplomacy and international environmental policy.

He led UNFCCC support for several initiatives on adaptation. These include the inception and support for National Adaptation Programmes of Action and National Adaptation Plans; the Nairobi Work Programme – an international knowledge hub for impacts, vulnerability and adaptation; and the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage. He recently created the Resilience Frontiers initiative which applies foresight for attaining post-2030 resilience.

Date: Friday, 3 October 2025

Time: 10.00 – 12.00

Venue: SX Grand Plenary Hall, Level G, Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Bangkok

When people hear the word oasis, they often picture a pool of water in the desert: a life-giving refuge. In today’s climate crisis, many farmers in Thailand are seeking their own oasis to survive worsening droughts and floods. Despite the rainy season, large areas still face delayed rainfall, insufficient water, or unexpected flooding-pressures that severely impact agriculture, the foundation of global food supply.

Recognising the urgency, Mitr Phol Group, a leader in the sugarcane and sugar industry, has launched the ‘Mitr Phol Oasis’ or ‘Agricultural Oasis’ initiative. This large-scale reservoir project supports sugarcane farmers by providing a sustainable water source, enhancing agricultural resilience and productivity.

Water as the Foundation of Life

Mr Buntoeng Vongkusolkit, Chairman of Mitr Phol Group, explains: ‘As an organisation that plays a key role in advancing Thailand’s agricultural sector, Mitr Phol does not see itself merely as a business operator. We are responsible citizens, committed to developing sustainable water solutions. Water is the foundation of life, economic stability, and environmental sustainability. By ensuring reliable access to alternative water sources, the ‘Mitr Phol Oasis’ provides practical relief to farmers, while also sharing knowledge on systematic water management through the Mitr Phol ModernFarm approach.’

The project converts flood-prone lowlands into reservoirs with a combined capacity of over one million cubic metres. These collect and store excess water during the rainy season to mitigate floods, then release it in the dry season to combat shortages. Currently, there are four sites in Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum, Suphan Buri, and Kalasin provinces, covering more than 22,000 rai of farmland.

The benefits are substantial: higher agricultural productivity, reduced costs by up to 3,500 baht per rai annually, and more consistent incomes for farmers. In addition, local jobs are created, strengthening community economies.

A Life Transformed

In Ban Thanon Klang, Chaiyaphum province, lush sugarcane fields now flourish thanks to the Oasis project. Farmers describe how their lives changed.

Mae Eiang (Butsakorn Khankang) recalls: ‘This area is far from natural water sources. Floods were frequent, and I relied solely on rainfall. I dug a small pond, sometimes paying up to 4,000 baht to refill it. I worried constantly whether the water would last.’

Mae Phap (Supap Chanthi) adds: ‘To water sugarcane, I had to hire labourers to haul over a hundred heavy pipes across kilometres. After watering, we carried them all back. It was exhausting.’

Now, with the Oasis project, both women enjoy reliable water supplies and expert guidance. Through Mitr Phol ModernFarm, they learnt to choose resilient sugarcane varieties, adopt drip irrigation, and fertilise more efficiently. Yields rose dramatically-from 7-8 tonnes per rai to over 20 tonnes.

Mae Eiang smiles: ‘When there’s water, there’s life. With this project, we no longer gamble on the weather. We even share water through a LINE group with over 100 members, booking usage fairly. Besides sugarcane, I grow vegetables and fruit around the reservoir-cucumbers, beans, bananas, papayas. We eat some, sell the rest. It’s like having our own supermarket.’

Strong Community Water Management

Water reserves alone are insufficient without good management. At Ban Thanon Klang, a dedicated water team ensures fair distribution.

Phor Therd (Therdsak Phamanee), the ‘Station Master,’ explains: ‘Mitr Phol helped design the system-planning rotations, dividing the area into zones, and installing high-pressure pumps for equitable delivery. Every day I check reservations in our LINE group, monitor pressure, and oversee the opening of valves. Ten valves at a time release water directly to farms or ponds, ensuring efficiency and fairness.’

More Than a Reservoir

The Mitr Phol Oasis is far more than infrastructure. It represents sustainable resource management, resilient farming, and stronger communities. By turning climate challenges into opportunities, the project empowers farmers to withstand uncertainty while supporting local economies and protecting the environment.

In the words of one farmer: ‘When there’s water, there’s life.’ For thousands of Thai sugarcane growers, the Oasis is not only a reservoir but also a lifeline-and a promise of a more resilient future.

Police are investigating online reports of a foreign couple seen having sex at night in the sea at Jomtien beach, in the Pattaya area.

On Saturday a post was shared on social media showing a still image taken from a video depicting a foreign couple engaged in sexual activity in the sea just off the beach.

The post included a caption describing their activity in explicit terms and noting that it happened in front of onlookers and tourists on Jomtien beach.

The post drew numerous comments from netizens.

On Sunday, police said they had not yet confirmed the activity happened at the reported location.

The video provided only a single camera angle, and they were still attempting to verify the date, time and precise location.

Despite the post-pandemic recovery, the global petrochemical sector has failed to stabilise. Overcapacity, slowing demand growth, and intensifying competition have pushed margins to their lowest levels in more than a decade. Persistent oversupply will remain the dominant challenge through the end of this decade.

Global utilisation rates for core commodities have dropped well below their historical averages. At the same time, capacity continues to expand in China and the Middle East, further flattening margins. As this trend continues, the future petrochemical market will likely take one of three different forms. In the first scenario, feedstock-rich regions and growth markets lead global trade. The second likely outcome is national oil companies (NOCs) dominate through scale and integration. In the third scenario, protectionism drives the emergence of regional champions.

Southeast Asian players must now consider the road ahead. It remains one of the few regions with solid demand growth, yet must react to a world where global oversupply has dragged down returns. Globally, annualised total shareholder return (TSR) fell to -1% between 2019 and 2024, compared with 15.3% for the S and P 500 – a gap that has weighed on SEA players despite strong local demand.

In response to these industry headwinds, companies across Southeast Asia have made difficult but strategic choices. In the Philippines, JG Summit shuttered its naphtha cracker in January-which produced 480,000 tonnes of ethylene and 240,000 tonnes of propylene annually-citing high costs and weak margins. Meanwhile in Malaysia, Lotte Chemical Titan paused operations at its Pasir Gudang Complex in December to mitigate losses.

In this challenging landscape, the next steps for the region’s industry players will have major implications for future growth.

Rationalisation as the first step

This is not the first time petrochemicals has faced margin compression, but the persistence of today’s imbalance has created urgency.

European players have already moved to rationalise capacity. Sabic closed its Olefins 3 cracker in the Netherlands, removing 550,000 tonnes of ethylene capacity. In France, ExxonMobil shut its Gravenchon steam cracker, losing 425,000 tonnes of ethylene and 290,000 tonnes of propylene capacity.

In our latest report, Preparing for the Next Wave of Petrochemical Consolidation,Boston Consulting Group (BCG) analysis reveals that at least 10 million tonnes per annum of global cracker capacity must be rationalised to restore balance. Without such action, utilisation rates will remain depressed, undermining investment capacity for the transition to low-carbon and downstream products.

Counting on consolidation

Rationalisation alone will not be enough. Consolidation has become the sector’s strongest lever to cut costs, capture synergies, and reposition for resilience.

We already see early signs of industry adapting to this need. More than 300 deals were announced in 2024-among them INEOS’s acquisition of TotalEnergies’ 50% stake in Naphtachimie, Appryl, and Gexaro, which previously operated as joint ventures. These deals seek to leverage crucial sources of advantage, whether that’s feedstock, access to new markets, technology, portfolio diversification, or greater control over key value chains.

In Southeast Asia, consolidation is already reshaping the landscape. Chandra Asri, in partnership with Glencore, acquired Shell’s Singapore refinery and petrochemical assets, before purchasing Chevron Phillips’ polyethylene plant-in doing so adding 400,000 tonnes annual capacity. These moves demonstrate how regional players are seeking scale and integration to compete in an unforgiving market.

Three futures that could reshape petrochemicals

The next decade will be pivotal for the petrochemical industry, with value creation shifting dramatically depending on how global dynamics play out. Our analysis points to three possible futures, each with very different implications for Southeast Asian producers.

The first scenario sees feedstock- and market-advantaged players pulling ahead. Producers in the United States and the Middle East are positioned to dominate global exports thanks to their low-cost feedstock base, while India and China capitalise on domestic demand growth to strengthen self-sufficiency. In such a world, companies in Southeast Asia would be at a structural disadvantage. Regional producers would need to accelerate their move downstream into higher-value or speciality products where differentiation can offset cost disadvantages. Those unable to make this pivot risk being priced out of the global market.

In the second scenario, NOCs rise to dominance. As global transport-fuel demand slows, many NOCs are reintegrating petrochemicals into their portfolios to capture growth and diversify earnings. Armed with government backing, large-scale mergers and acquisitions, and heavy investments in technologies such as crude-to-chemicals, these players could secure an outsized role in the global industry. Southeast Asian producers would face tougher competition from nationally supported companies, unless they form strategic partnerships or focus on specialised products.

The third scenario is defined by the rise of regional champions in a protectionist world. Trade barriers and tightening environmental regulations could slow global flows and push countries to develop self-sufficient value chains. In this context, petrochemical industries would consolidate around two to three dominant players within each region. For Southeast Asia, strong local demand growth could provide a platform for such champions to emerge. But success would hinge on consolidation and integration. Without sufficient scale, even promising domestic players would struggle to compete against better-integrated rivals in neighbouring regions.

The case for bold action

It’s clear that consolidation is no longer optional, regardless of which scenario plays out.

The region does face key structural disadvantages in charting the route forward. Unlike rivals in the US and Middle East, Southeast Asian producers lack low-cost feedstock, while China’s mega-plants benefit from greater scale and lower capital intensity. Southeast Asian players sit in the third quartile of the global cost curve for several key petrochemical commodities, leaving them vulnerable in an increasingly competitive environment.

Some regional players are already testing new approaches. One company is pioneering feedstock flexibility by importing ethane from the US to supply its regional petrochemicals complex, lowering costs by more than 30%. Others are exploring mergers to integrate assets and build resilience.

The challenge now is urgency. As consolidation reshapes the global industry, Southeast Asian producers must act decisively to scale, integrate, and reposition. Those that move boldly can become regional champions. Those that delay, risk being sidelined in the next era of petrochemicals.

Rak see lacquer colour painting is a distinct art form found in Asia. It involves mixing pigment powder with clear lacquer sap to create colours resembling oil paint. Artists often add details to their art using black lacquer outlines, gold or silver leaves, and build up multiple overlapping layers. Once dry, the surface is polished to reveal the depth and texture of the layers.

Despite its cultural significance, access to these traditional materials and techniques is limited because certain materials need to be imported from abroad. Due to transportation fees, artists spend a lot of money on materials.

Sanan Rattana, a fellow of the Royal Society of Thailand’s Academy of Arts, has been interested in rak see because he once had an art teacher who had lived during the reign of King Rama V and knew about the technique. Sanan has visited Vietnam many times to further learn about rak see techniques.

According to Sanan, Thailand has no clear lacquer available. Thus, he had to import clear lacquer from Vietnam which costs an equivalent of about 700 to 800 baht for 10kg. However, with transportation fees the total cost rises to 18,000 baht.

“Rak see had been missing from Thailand for over 100 years. It disappeared during the reign of King Rama V when Thailand was trying to escape colonialism and had to adopt Western culture and art techniques. This caused the loss of traditional Thai art. The last person who knew original rak see techniques has already passed away,” explained Sanan.

“Rak see techniques were used in China 4,000 years ago. The techniques were also found in Japan, South Korea and Vietnam. Since Vietnam is close to Thailand, I visited Hue many times to purchase materials and I caught a glimpse of their techniques, remembered them and developed them by myself because the art community in Vietnam does not share rak see knowledge with foreigners.

“I also learned rak see techniques from looking at second-hand Japanese bento sets in Thailand. My rak see techniques combine traditional Thai, Vietnamese and Japanese techniques.”

After Sanan developed his rak see techniques, he organised workshops to educate young people, however, materials such as clear lacquer sap, pigment powder and drawing boards imported from Vietnam cost a lot of money. Though young people know about rak see, many of them cannot work with this technique because of the expenses. Therefore, the National Research Council of Thailand asked Sanan to search for rak see substitute materials available in Thailand.

Sanan’s successful results are on display at the art exhibition “Rak See” at Chulalongkorn University Museum.

It took him six months to find materials that could be substituted for clear lacquer sap and pigment powder. Urethane and varnish are replacements for clear lacquer, while synthetic colours are substitutes for pigment powder.

“On the day I submitted my research grant application, I had no idea what kind of materials could be substitutes. However, I learned that clear lacquer sap has the properties of being able to adhere, coat and act as a sticky resin. Due to these properties, I looked into construction materials such as furniture coating like urethane and varnish. There was a lot of trial and error as I experimented with materials. It was quite wasteful as if something did not work, I had to buy new materials,” Sanan explained.

“I also bought and tested many synthetic colours purchased from various places including the stationary store Nanaphan, the paint shop Sen Hong Eagle and the construction material shop Thai Watsadu. After six months of research, the committee asked about my progress. I told them that I found paints for rak see that could be purchased at stores in districts nationwide. The committee was pleased with my answer because it met their expectations.”

In addition to urethane or varnish mixed with synthetic colours, Sanan’s daughter and his students created pigment from natural materials such as rose petals, jackfruit and rosewood. The results are effective, but the colours are earth tones.

“Rak See” displays several works by Sanan along with more than 90 others created by students, aspiring artists and professionals. Sanan and his research team collaborated with many universities and schools and passed on rak see techniques using new materials to teachers, lecturers and artists. They will now continue to pass on the knowledge to more students and colleagues.

As a research team member, Asst Prof Soamshine Boonyananta, of Chulalongkorn University, said that regardless of art background, anyone can enjoy rak see techniques.

“Unlike other Thai traditional art techniques which require specific processes, artists and students can enjoy experimenting with rak see even though they have different backgrounds,” she said.

“Artists and students can use urethane or varnish mixed with synthetic colours to paint on a board, like oil painting or create art by building up multiple layers and polishing it. They are forced to work on specific techniques. After the first trial, if someone enjoys rak see, they can continually develop their own styles.”

Sanan had a positive reaction when asked how he felt about over 90 lacquer paintings created by younger artists and students. He also revealed his future project which will preserve another traditional Thai art technique.

“I am happy that I am bringing back our traditional art techniques which have almost disappeared. In the past, I was the only one practicing rak see,” he said.

“Then, 30 to 40 people learned about it and became interested. Currently, the group who know rak see techniques has expanded to 100 to 200 people. In the future, Thailand will have more diverse lacquer techniques and younger generations will have more options apart from using only paints imported from abroad.

“My future project is to study and restore lacquer techniques mixed with pearl, which is found at Wat Sra Bua in Phetchaburi. It is the only place in Thailand where this technique is found.”

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has defended his exit as interior minister under the previous Pheu Thai Party-led government, stating that Pheu Thai sought to regain the ministry to increase its advantage ahead of an anticipated early election.

In the second day of the debate on the government’s policy statement on Tuesday, Mr Anutin responded to accusations from opposition MPs that his government was formed under questionable circumstances.

The coalition led by Mr Anutin’s Bhumjaithai Party has already violated the so-called memorandum of agreement signed with the main opposition People’s Party, said Jiraporn Sindhuprai, a Pheu Thai MP from Roi Et.

The agreement was signed in exchange for the People’s Party supporting Mr Anutin in the vote for prime minister. Bhumjaithai, in turn, would agree to stay in power for only four months before calling for a dissolution of the House. The People’s Party also set a condition that Bhumjaithai must not try to expand the coalition to secure a House majority.

Ms Jiraporn called the Anutin administration a ‘special government’ born out of irregular conditions – including Bhumjaithai’s withdrawal from the previous coalition and the Constitutional Court’s ruling on Aug 29 that removed Paetongtarn Shinawatra as prime minister over her infamous phone call with Cambodian strongman Hun Sen.

Ms Jiraporn claimed the agreement with the People’s Party was not honoured, pointing to the government winning more votes than expected in the prime ministerial selection and to MPs defecting to Bhumjaithai, thereby breaching the pledge not to try to create a majority bloc.

She said the government had little sincerity about restoring democracy and pledged that Pheu Thai would use the next four months to scrutinise the administration intensively.

Pheu Thai is not officially part of the opposition led by the People’s Party, saying it prefers to be independent for now.

Rising to defend himself, Mr Anutin recounted that while accompanying Ms Paetongtarn when she was premier on an official trip to Cambodia in April, he was told afterwards that Cambodian officials had assumed he would soon be removed as interior minister.

He later received official confirmation on June 17 that Pheu Thai wanted the Interior Ministry back and suggested he take the health portfolio instead.

‘I told them it was better to be direct – if you want me out of government, just say so,’ Mr Anutin said. ‘I stood by Ms Paetongtarn every step, good days and bad, and never betrayed her.

‘Yet I was told Pheu Thai needed the Interior Ministry because elections were near,’ he said, adding that he saw no evidence that control of the ministry guaranteed electoral victory.

The Interior Ministry supervises provincial and local administrations nationwide, which critics argue could provide an electoral advantage to the party controlling the ministry.

Mr Anutin is now servong as Interior Minister again, in addition to his prime ministerial role.

He added that, after repeated discussions, including with the prime minister’s secretary-general, Bhumjaithai chose to withdraw from the coalition, citing both unfair treatment and the controversy surrounding the Paetongtarn-Hun Sen phone call, which undermined the government’s legitimacy.

Mr Anutin said the current coalition agreement with the People’s Party includes a commitment to dissolve parliament by Jan 31 or earlier if necessary.

He also dismissed claims of ‘poaching’ MPs to boost government numbers, stating Bhumjaithai’s recent gain came from a by-election victory in Si Sa Ket province, in a seat formerly held by Pheu Thai.

Shopee, Lazada and TikTok Shop have all raised their sales transaction fees and introduced additional service charges, leading to higher costs for merchants.

This trend signals the platforms’ drive to increase profitability, while also reflecting their dominant market power by placing a greater financial burden on sellers.

Moreover, TikTok Shop has for the first time expanded its “Pay later” financial service to encompass a broader range of users after piloting a trial among a small number of users late last year.

TikTok Shop’s rivals, Shopee and Lazada, have long been operating this kind of service.

Industry analysts warn that these platforms are no longer just marketplaces — they now control payment systems, logistics, advertising, financial services, and insurance, all powered by behavioural data from over 30 million users.

On Sept 15 this year, Shopee increased its sales transaction fee by another 0.6-1 percentage point, depending on the category, along with a new “Platform Infrastructure Fee” of 1 baht per order.

On Sept 28, Lazada raised its seller fees by 2 percentage points for both regular sellers and LazMall merchants.

Effective as of Oct 1 this year, TikTok Shop said it would be adjusting its platform fees as part of a broader investment strategy “to maintain a safe, sustainable, and inclusive ecosystem”. The new fees are a Commerce Growth Fee of 5.35% for electronics and 6.42% for other categories, capped at a maximum of 199 baht per unit (including VAT), and an Infrastructure Fee of 1.07 baht, which will be waived for sellers with fewer than 100 monthly orders.

In a statement, TikTok Shop said: “We continue to be committed to enabling businesses of all sizes. In 2025 alone, in Thailand, TikTok Shop is investing over US$2 million [64.7 million baht] to promote Thai companies. We recently launched a TikTok Shop E-commerce Curriculum for entrepreneurs in partnership with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society.”

Pawoot Pongvitayapanu, honorary president of the Thai e-Commerce Association, said Thailand’s digital economy faces growing concerns over the dominance of e-commerce platforms, which are rapidly evolving into commercial infrastructure giants.

By leveraging customer data — such as purchase habits, payment patterns, and delivery preferences — platforms are building powerful engines for personalised promotions, upselling, and cross-industry expansion.

This poses significant risks to five key sectors.

Regarding banking and finance, the platforms compete by offering lending and instalments such as “buy now, pay later” services during the payment process, using real-time payment data to assess creditworthiness, which is often more accurate than traditional credit bureaus.

Their proprietary e-wallets also divert transaction fees away from banks, while those financial institutions lose access to stock-keeping unit-level data, weakening their ability to offer competitive pre-approved loans.

Retailers and brands are increasingly dependent on platforms for visibility, often paying for promotion in a “pay-to-play” model.

Platforms have also launched their own private-label products based on top-selling items, undercutting suppliers. Loyalty tools such as coupons and points keep customers within the platform ecosystem.

For logistics and warehousing, the e-commerce platforms are building their own delivery networks and fulfilment centres, setting service levels and pricing.

With access to end-to-end route and cost data, they can optimise operations beyond the reach of traditional logistics providers.

When it comes to the media and advertising sector, their budgets are shifting towards platform ecosystems, where closed-loop attribution links ads directly to sales.

The platforms’ first-party data enables precise retargeting and personalised promotions, reducing reliance on traditional media.

The platforms offer insurance services, covering parcels and accidents.

Their future expansion could reach travel, health, education, telecom, and utilities — any service that can be embedded at the checkout and supported by user data.

Mr Pawoot explained how platforms tighten their grip by use of a data flywheel, as more sales generate more data, enabling better recommendations and higher conversion rates.

They can have a cross-sell engine by using points and coupons that link products with financial, insurance, and logistics services.

Mr Pawoot suggests businesses collect first-party data via customer relationship management and owned channels (such as the web, apps, and Line) while using marketplaces to acquire new customers, then convert them into brand members.

The businesses should partner with banks and insurtechs to embed financial and insurance services.

They should collaborate on logistics to negotiate better service levels and pricing. Mr Pawoot urged the government to step in and ensure fair competition. Without intervention, monopolistic platforms could expand unchecked, threatening the survival of traditional businesses across multiple sectors.

“Marketplace platforms are no longer just selling products — they’re becoming the backbone of Thailand’s commercial infrastructure,” Mr Pawoot said. “If businesses don’t act now to reclaim data and embed their own services, they risk losing margins, bargaining power, and loyal customers.”

Re: “Authoritarians’ brave new cities”, (Opinion, Sept 23).

I am reading the latest novel by David Baldacci (Strangers in Time), set in London during the Blitz.

He writes: “But., as even a casual observer of history could say with complete confidence, such one-man governing structures never ended well for anyone, not even the strongman. Humans make poor gods. We’re just not up to it.”

It seems to confirm the saying that power corrupts, but absolute power corrupts absolutely. USA, be warned?

Keith McCulloch

Sum of woes

Re: “Irrational rationale” and “Revise the numbers”, (PostBag, Sept 22).

I appreciate the feedback from S de Jong and Ian Dann. Yet, as a university teacher by trade, I teach my students that a good paper needs to pass the “so what?” test, and I don’t see their criticisms of my inexact arithmetic as passing the “so what?” test; especially in view of the fact that I have been upfront that I am dyslexic with numbers, but not letters.

Yet, to S de Jong’s point, let’s revise the numbers using his numbers.

Let’s take his upper figure of 44,000 baht spent per tourist and multiply 44,000 times 1.75 million on a calculator. I came up with a figure on Google (and I checked this five times due to my dyslexia) of 77 billion baht or $2.4 billion that is and/or shall be absent from the Thai economy in 2025. Please note I am using S de Jong’s numbers, and I openly ask non-dyslexic readers to rerun this math.

To close, while I’m dealing with numbers that even a CPA may struggle with, this is a whole lot of greenbacks going into someone else’s — cannabis stench free — tourism industry and, by the way, if I happen to take my young nephews and nieces on a tourist trip, we’re going to somewhere weed free; where good people are high on proper moral values and not funny mushrooms.

Jason A Jellison

Tailored tourism

Re: “Reviving the China market”, (BP, Sept 28).

Instead of focusing on increasing the sheer number of tourists, we should tailor different services for different target markets, offering superior value for money to each niche. Just counting heads is a sure way to over-tourism, zero baht tours and low profits.

The Louvre Museum is a prime example of market segmentation. To help ensure quality experiences for all, the Louvre requires advance booking of timed tickets to manage visitor flow. On-site ticket availability is limited and subject to the museum’s attendance levels. Admission is free for those under 18, the disabled and their caregivers, and certain other categories like art teachers.

Importantly, there is no highly irritating discrimination by nationality; EU residents under 26 enter for free, regardless of nationality. The Louvre offers standard adult timed-entry tickets, tickets with an audio guide, a combo ticket (including Louvre entry and a Seine River cruise), and a priority access guided tour with an expert host — each at a price point suitable for its market niche.

Our Chiang Mai Historical and City Arts and Cultural Centres have expert guides available on demand, dressed in period costumes, and they really know their stuff, eg, my guide majored in Thai History from CMU. Why can’t other tourist attractions be like them?

For instance, Ancient City might offer audio guides or hosts who majored in religion/history, or Khao Keo Open Zoo’s hosts might be zoology majors, with foreign language skills as an add-on.

Think profit per head, not just heads.

Burin Kantabutra

China’s new visa programme aimed at attracting foreign tech talent kicks off this week, a move seen boosting Beijing’s fortunes in its geopolitical rivalry with Washington as a new US visa policy prompts would-be applicants to scramble for alternatives.

While China has no shortage of skilled local engineers, the programme is part of an effort by Beijing to portray itself as a country welcoming foreign investment and talent, as rising trade tensions due to US tariffs cloud the country’s economic outlook.

China has taken a series of measures to boost foreign investment and travel, opening more sectors to overseas investors and offering visa waivers for citizens from most European countries, Japan and South Korea among others.

“The symbolism is powerful: while the US raises barriers, China is lowering them,” said Iowa-based immigration attorney Matt Mauntel-Medici, referring to China’s new visa category, called the K visa, which launches tomorrow, Oct 1.

‘Exquisite’ timing

The K visa, announced in August, targets young foreign science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem) graduates and promises to allow entry, residence and employment without a job offer, which could appeal to foreign workers looking for alternatives to US job opportunities.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration said it would ask companies to pay $100,000 (3.22 million baht) per year for H-1B worker visas, widely used by tech companies to hire skilled foreign workers.

“The US has definitely shot itself in the foot on H-1Bs, and the timing is exquisite for China’s K visa,” said Michael Feller, chief strategist at Geopolitical Strategy.

Other countries, including South Korea, Germany and New Zealand, are also loosening visa rules to attract skilled migrants.

Immigration experts say the main attraction of the K visa is no requirement of a sponsoring employer, which has been regarded as one of the biggest hurdles for those seeking H-1B visas.

The H-1B visa requires employer sponsorship and is subject to a lottery system, with only 85,000 slots available annually. The new $100,000 fee could further deter first-time applicants.

“It’s an appealing alternative for Indian Stem professionals seeking flexible, streamlined visa options,” said Bikash Kali Das, an Indian student at Sichuan University.

India was by far the largest beneficiary of H-1B visas last year, accounting for 71% of approved beneficiaries.

Unanswered questions

Despite its promise, the K visa faces hurdles. Chinese government guidelines mention vague “age, educational background and work experience” requirements.

There are also no details on financial incentives, employment facilitation, permanent residency, or family sponsorship. Unlike the US, China does not offer citizenship to foreigners except in rare cases.

China’s State Council did not respond to a request for comment asking for more details on the logistics and underlying strategy of the K visa.

Language is another barrier: most Chinese tech firms operate in Mandarin, limiting opportunities for non-Chinese speakers.

Political tensions between Delhi and Beijing could also become a factor that could limit the number of Indian K visa applicants China is willing to accept, experts said.

“China will need to ensure Indian citizens feel welcome and can do meaningful work without Mandarin,” said Mr Feller.

Alternative for whom?

China’s talent recruitment has traditionally focused on China-born scientists abroad and overseas Chinese.

Recent efforts include home-purchase subsidies and signing bonuses of up to 5 million yuan ($702,200). These have drawn back US-based Chinese Stem talent, especially amid Washington’s growing scrutiny on ties to China.

“The recruitment effort targeting Indian tech talent in China is growing but remains moderate compared to the more intensive, well-established, and well-funded initiatives aimed at repatriating Chinese Stem talent,” said Sichuan University’s Das.

A Chinese Stem graduate who recently got a job offer from a Silicon Valley-based tech company was also sceptical about the K visa’s prospects.

“Asian countries like China don’t rely on immigration and local Chinese governments have many ways to attract domestic talent,” he said, declining to be named for privacy reasons.

The US has over 51 million immigrants — 15% of its population — compared to just 1 million foreigners in China, less than 1% of its population.

While China is unlikely to significantly alter its immigration policy to allow in millions of foreign workers, analysts say the K visa could still boost Beijing’s fortunes in its geopolitical rivalry with Washington.

“If China can attract even a sliver of global tech talent, it will be more competitive in cutting-edge technology,” Mr Feller said.?