pegman

The USA is not recognized as a "Full Democracy" but as a "Flawed Democracy". Likely to do with $$$ in politics and gerrymandering.. Which makes it's lecturing others a bit rich. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_Index

So Realpolitik like when the Americans were allies of the Khmer Rouge after the killing fields?

Why do you bring up the Saudis?

Does that pub have a name?

Yes you are definitely missing all the fun

Seems the Friendship Bridge has a rail line on it. Google says Thailand metre gauge, China/Laos standard gauge

Not sure but there is no rail bridge over the Mekong right now anyway. My guess is the containers are shipped by rail to the end of the line then trucked over the Friendship Bridge. Then back onto rail flats for the trip across Loas to China

Thailand's future lies in trade with China as does the rest of the region

China always gets the blame by some here

It's happening already. The American Empire is fading and the Chinese are becoming more dominant by the year..

What is this guy's connection to the "family"? Son-in-law of some sort?

Finland also #1 in Happy Country index. Seems we found reason why.

Back when I lived nearby I enjoyed Frasers breakfast. http://www.fraserspattaya.com/breakfast.html

TIT. Take a wild guess

Just as likely one of the cops owns the bar.

If everything was Chinese controlled it's kind of strange that Thais were charged criminally

The Americans will keep pushing the Kyiv gov to continue fighting till the last Ukranian speaker.. Their munitions manufacturers have too much at stake to do otherwise. Just check out their share price increases lately. These shoulder mounted anti-tank/plane missiles go for $100-175k per. Then there is the gas pump gouging going on even though North America is self-sufficient in oil.

Good on Canada too for once again being one of the few countries that offers sanctuary in such cases.

So are you saying money was spent in Thailand by the Chinese tourists?

So the restaurant was giving away free food? Not likely. Like tour packages all over the world you pay the tour operator who then pays the restaurants, hotels, attraction operators.....

Cheap doesn't mean free

These cases seemed strange from the get go. All inclusive vacation packages are on offer the world over. Likely the courts were being used to hammer the competition of friends of the junta.

The villain is now on Koh Tao, Death Island. Will be interesting to see how he makes out there, or doesn't

You could ask his brother's, the previous mayor, former driver had he not been assassinated after the godfather, their father, was rearrested. Don't mess wth that clan.

Come on guys stay in line and behave yourselves