People's Party Deputy Leader, Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn | Photo via Facebook/Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn

 

The People’s Party has called upon the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation to scrutinise international study programmes allegedly exploited by Chinese nationals for acquiring student visas to engage in illegal work in Thailand.

 

Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, the party’s deputy leader, pointed to the March 28th collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building as a testament to the adverse effects of the zero-dollar business model, prevalent across various sectors including education. This model, often associated with foreign operators, particularly from China, contributes negligible economic value to Thailand.

 

The zero-dollar business concept gained notoriety through Chinese tourism businesses offering tours that generate no substantial financial benefit for Thailand or its partners. Wiroj spotlighted similar activities within higher education, revealing that Chinese engineers in Thailand, operating under student visas, were identified during the SAO building’s post-collapse inquiry. Investigations showed these engineers were engaged by a seemingly Thai company, secretly owned by Chinese interests.

 

Wiroj asserted that the international courses attracting Chinese nationals were conducted solely in the Chinese language, implying these programmes merely facilitated student visas for individuals tied to the zero-dollar industry. He further noted that the thesis processes in such programmes involved panels of Chinese academics who allegedly received payment to craft students' dissertations, highlighting academic malpractice.

 

 

 

The university in question reportedly fell under the control of Chinese investors using Thai proxies, with tuition funds channelled through a parent company in China, while the local affiliate declared minimal profits to sidestep tax obligations.

 

Moreover, it was revealed that some Chinese-led construction firms, disguised as local entities, imported materials from China and employed only Chinese engineers. Wiroj’s petition, aiming to address these issues, was submitted to Supamas Isarabhakdi, the Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation.

 

The situation underscores a pressing need to reform practices within the education sector and tighten visa regulations to prevent the exploitation of Thailand’s educational resources and address broader concerns of economic integrity and safety.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-05-01

 

 

THailand is getting more and more a province of China it seems.. a few years to go and it is like Taiwan..

Good move.

However I doubt there will an answer soon

Thailand is fast becoming a satellite nation for China.

This abuse of international student visas goes on in many countries. The Chinese are not the only abusers, the Indians are bad and so are applicants from many African countries. It's a big problem in USA, Canada, UK and probably Australia. They are facilitated however by dodgy 'schools' and 'colleges' in those countries that know full-well the tuition they get won't match the student attendance. The 'student' goes in once a month to a class and spends the rest of the time flipping burgers or doing cleaning jobs all of it is to send money home - not study.

13 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Thailand is fast becoming a satellite nation for China.

 

But they can use the sataellite to transport unwelcomed Thai polititiance and Chinese leaders to send them for an orbit during 50 years nobody will miss them.