The recent announcement by the government of new Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin that it is considering inviting Chinese police officers to help patrol tourist hotspots in Thailand has sparked a wave of concern and debate.

 

The plan, ostensibly aimed at bolstering security and fostering a sense of safety among the large number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand, raises significant questions about sovereignty, the effectiveness of such measures, and the broader implications for Thailand’s foreign policy, particularly its long-standing ‘bamboo diplomacy’.

 

At the heart of this issue lies the question of sovereignty. Sovereignty, in its most basic sense, is the absolute right of a country to govern itself, free from external interference or control. By inviting foreign law enforcement officers to operate on Thai soil, Thailand risks eroding this fundamental principle. The presence of Chinese police in tourist areas, even if well-intentioned, symbolizes a troubling concession of Thailand’s authority to a foreign power. This move could set a dangerous precedent, where the line between assistance and interference becomes blurred, potentially inviting future compromises on national sovereignty.

 

Moreover, the presence of Chinese police raises practical concerns about the dynamics of law enforcement in Thailand. Policing is not just a matter of maintaining order; it is deeply intertwined with cultural understanding, language, and legal frameworks. Thai police officers are trained to operate within the specific context of Thai society and law. Introducing foreign officers, who may not have the same level of cultural and linguistic proficiency, or understanding of Thai law and norms, could lead to misunderstandings, ineffective policing, and even conflicts with local communities.

 

by Arun Saronchai

 

Full story: THAI ENQUIRER 2023-11-13

 

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11 minutes ago, webfact said:

Sovereignty, in its most basic sense, is the absolute right of a country to govern itself, free from external interference or control.

Unfortunately, the Thai government (past and present) has forfeited that right to the Chinese.

I really just can't see the Thais allowing foreigners to assume the role of actual policemen, e.g. carrying guns, having any kind of real authority -- imagine what happens when one of those foreign "police" tries even in error to assert authority over a Thai citizen?, etc. So I'm gonna guess the realization of this proposal would involve having some Chinese auxiliary members of the Tourist Police, similar to what was done a few years back with some farangs in Tourist Police uniforms in Pattaya.

 

Of course, I thought that was ridiculous then, and I still think it's a terrible idea now.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

inviting Chinese police officers to help patrol tourist hotspots in Thailand has sparked a wave of concern and debate.

Well they can't do any worse than what we've got at the moment.

USA has bases, FBI, etc operating world wide and including in Thailand, a listening post in Chiang Mai even.

 

Don't see the harm with Chinese police operating within Thailand, considering Thailand has become a honeypot for China focused crime.

5 minutes ago, Jenkins9039 said:

USA has bases, FBI, etc operating world wide and including in Thailand, a listening post in Chiang Mai even.

 

Don't see the harm with Chinese police operating within Thailand, considering Thailand has become a honeypot for China focused crime.

fine example of a non sequitur if there ever was one

 

Srettha should remind Anutin (in clear terms "kick Anutin's backside") who then can start doing his present job as interior minister and do a serious clean-up job among the police and immigration. The corruption is rampant, for decades, and getting worse and worse. 

But yes, Srettha stops at nothing to lure Chinese tourism money into Thailand and, as an extra bonus, if a red brother from the North is having problems, Srettha can turn around and blame it on the Chinese police force not doing their job properly.

Bottomline is, clean up the police force - which could mean that more than 50% are sent packing for good; in a country avoiding confrontation at all costs = will never happen. 

3 hours ago, tai4de2 said:

I really just can't see the Thais allowing foreigners to assume the role of actual policemen, e.g. carrying guns, having any kind of real authority -- imagine what happens when one of those foreign "police" tries even in error to assert authority over a Thai citizen?, etc. So I'm gonna guess the realization of this proposal would involve having some Chinese auxiliary members of the Tourist Police, similar to what was done a few years back with some farangs in Tourist Police uniforms in Pattaya.

 

Of course, I thought that was ridiculous then, and I still think it's a terrible idea now.

Agreed. They still have foreign/farang tourist police, go to walking street and you can see them,  but they are more like liaison and have very limited powers.

Anyways, what kind of Visa would that be? Volunteer? Education? No Visa/Work Permit? For how long? Will they have their own agents?

Will they police Thai Media?

3 minutes ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

Agreed. They still have foreign/farang tourist police, go to walking street and you can see them,  but they are more like liaison and have very limited powers.

 

Not sure these folks will feel they have limited powers. They seem to operate outside the law elsewhere.

 

"In October, the US unsealed criminal charges against seven Chinese nationals accused of spying on and harassing a US resident and his family as part of efforts by the Chinese government to return one of them to China. Last month, one of the Chinese "police stations" in the centre of the Irish capital Dublin was ordered to close by the government as a result of Safeguard Defenders' work.

And Canadian intelligence officials recently said they were investigating accusations that China had opened unofficial "police" stations on Canadian soil."

 

https://www.npr.org/2023/04/17/1170571626/fbi-arrests-2-on-charges-tied-to-chinese-outpost-in-new-york-city

 

What happens when a Chinese policeman arrests/shakes down/assaults an American, British, Australian or other Western citizen? Wonder if the American embassy would even bother to protest.

Canada has first hand experience with Chinese police in Canada and can give some good advice to Thailand.

Genius has its limits.......

4 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

Genius has its limits.......

..., stupidity is boundless.

 

Yes,foreign police have no business in Thailand.Local police have a proven record in handling problems adequately.

4 hours ago, mikebell said:

Well they can't do any worse than what we've got at the moment.

Ohh I think Chinese police will do a lot worse than Thai police, if given an inch.

2 hours ago, Sydebolle said:

Srettha should remind Anutin (in clear terms "kick Anutin's backside") who then can start doing his present job as interior minister and do a serious clean-up job among the police and immigration.

 

The police were taken from the Interior Ministry and placed directly under the Prime Minister about 25 years ago.

All I can see happening is the Chinese police will sit in their respective stations with their Thai counterparts until it is time for a walkabout with the media present .

They will accidentally come across some Chinese tourists , shoot the s**t with them , tell them that they are there for their protection .

Repeat once a month , job done.

WTF.......gotta be kidding next step they will be arresting all nationalities and Thai will let it happen....😳

3 hours ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

Agreed. They still have foreign/farang tourist police, go to walking street and you can see them,  but they are more like liaison and have very limited powers.

They are not real polices. Only helping the tourist police with language and such.

Idea for Chinese police to patrol in Thailand lights up social media

 

 

The Thai prime minister’s idea to invite Chinese police to patrol with their Thai counterparts, to help provide security for Chinese tourists in Thailand, lit up social media during the weekend.

 

The proposal was revealed by Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool after meeting with PM Srettha Thavisin, before he left for the United States to attend an APEC summit.

 

The governor told reporters that the premier wishes to increase confidence among Chinese tourists about visiting Thailand and that visiting Chinese police will conduct joint patrols in both major and less visited tourist destinations.

 

Caption: [FILE] Chinese police officers answer the questions of Chinese tourists beside the Fontana di Trevi in Rome, Italy in 2019 (Image Courtesy: Xinhua News Agency)

 

Full story: Thai PBS 2023-11-13

 

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14 minutes ago, Captor said:

They are not real polices. Only helping the tourist police with language and such.

 

Oh Yeah  ?  They are Security / Surveillance / Spies, answerable ONLY to Beijing  ! 

With No respect for Thailand Sovereignty  !

Everything gets reported back to Beijing, And when Thailand gets upset,  China will Bluster and THREATEN Thailand of more "serious consequences""

Is there a  ""RECIPROCAL"" agreement to allow Thai Police to patrol the streets of Beijung  ?

No  !  I didn't think so  !

31 minutes ago, rovinman said:

 

 

Oh Yeah  ?  They are Security / Surveillance / Spies, answerable ONLY to Beijing  ! 

With No respect for Thailand Sovereignty  !

Everything gets reported back to Beijing, And when Thailand gets upset,  China will Bluster and THREATEN Thailand of more "serious consequences""

Is there a  ""RECIPROCAL"" agreement to allow Thai Police to patrol the streets of Beijung  ?

No  !  I didn't think so  !

human rights violations, extraditions, free speech, etc... so many more problems Thailand isn't seeing or it's closing their eyes on them

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Introducing foreign officers, who may not have the same level of cultural and linguistic proficiency, or understanding of Thai law and norms, could lead to misunderstandings, ineffective policing, and even conflicts with local communities.

What a BS. This is about the sovereignty of a state. Why not have Libyan police officers patrol in London?

5 hours ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

Agreed. They still have foreign/farang tourist police, go to walking street and you can see them,  but they are more like liaison and have very limited powers.

I could not be opposed to Chinese national expats (nor Russsians for that matter) volunteering with the Tourist Police on the same basis but I do not think that is what is being proposed.

Will the Thai police share earned 'extras' with the imported cops?

11 hours ago, Celsius said:

Canada has first hand experience with Chinese police

But of course "an illegal activity" by Chinese. They are mostly spying on Chinese activists and more. 

The concern is.......

 

Chinese tourists are afraid to return to Thailand because they fear that Thailand is not safe for them.

 

So the Thai government's *ahem* "solution" is to CONFIRM that it's not safe to return to Thailand....... 

 

.........by effectively admitting that Thailand's Police Force is INCAPABLE of making Thailand safe.........

 

........so they need to bring in CHINESE police officers, to make up the difference.

 

So, Chinese Tourists fear returning to Thailand because they fear they won't be safe.........

........and the Thai government's answer is to CONFIRM the validity of their fear!

 

"We can't handle the risk ourselves, so we've asked for help from another country! From YOUR country!"

 

Brilliant!

 

This policing idea is a big red banner admitting......

 

"Thailand isn't safe for Chinese Tourists!"

 

If you want to calm the fears of Chinese Tourists? ....... The first order of business is, "Don't do things that confirm their fears!"

 

Duh!

Edited November 13, 20232 yr by KanchanaburiGuy

On 11/13/2023 at 2:59 PM, khunjeff said:

 

The police were taken from the Interior Ministry and placed directly under the Prime Minister about 25 years ago.

Even worse then ....... 

Such an absurd proposal.

Well giving away Srettha's nature as the Chinese Puppet.