Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs Parnpree Bahiddha-Nu-Kara is preparing to travel to Beijing in February. At length, he expects to sign the permanent visa waiver scheme announced last week between Thailand and China. However, questions arise about the ongoing Chinese submarine contract. At the same time, trade figures in 2023 showed Thailand running a massive trade deficit with Beijing.

Thai-Chinese visa deal: High hopes and high stakes! Optimism soars as Thailand eyes 8 million tourists in 2024. As the Minister of Foreign Affairs Parnpree Bahiddha-Nu-Kara prepares for talks in Beijing next month, there are hard questions. Is the permanent visa scheme linked to ongoing diplomatic engagement as well as the trade game between the countries which Thailand is losing?

In the aftermath of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s big announcement last week of a permanent Chinese Thai visa waiver, the PM confirmed that Minister of Foreign Affairs Parnpree Bahiddha-Nu-Kara would travel to Beijing in February to sign the deal. At the same time, a Chinese spokesman at the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Beijing spoke of intense discussions on the matter. In particular, he said it was hoped it would be finalised ‘as soon as possible’. 

 

It has also emerged that the visa waiver plan came to the fore after Mr Srettha met with President Xi Jinping in October last year. Formerly, Thailand sought to cancel a S26T Yuan class submarine order for ฿13.5 billion and order instead, a frigate. It is not clear if the two matters are linked.

 

Officially, in Bangkok at least, it would appear not. Undoubtedly, Thailand sees the move as a boost for its foreign tourism sector. 

 

by Joseph O' Connor

 

Full story: Thai Examiner.com 2024-01-12

 

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Good old Thailand.

Deep in Xi's pocket and now being held to ransom.

 From the main article

Quote

For the first 11 months of 2023, figures released show that the country imported $29.7 billion more than it exported to the Chinese mainland. To bridge the gap, Thailand would need to attract over 27 million Chinese tourists in 2024 compared to 3.5 million last year.

So it's

1 buy the sub

2 import even more Chinese goods

 

and then we may encourage Chinese to visit Thailand. (But the criminals are already there.)

Mind you, we are not sure that the people can afford the high air fares..... it is up to them if they come.