Failed Boat Trip Shows Long Arm of China's Reach Into Thailand
by Chris Blake, Ting Shi

BANGKOK: -- Song Zhiyu hid for 10 hours in the luggage compartment of a bus on the final leg of his escape from China to Thailand, a country where he planned to seek asylum.

Almost two years later, with his application still pending and fearing a greater reach by Chinese authorities, he boarded a small boat at the resort town of Pattaya and set off with eight other Chinese in the hope of reaching New Zealand, more than 5,500 miles (8,850 kilometers) away.

The boat quickly foundered in rough seas. Less than 48 hours later Song was in Thai custody and at risk of being returned to China, where he’d been jailed for more than five years for membership of the banned religious group Falun Gong.

Full story: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-03-10/failed-boat-trip-shows-long-arm-of-china-s-reach-into-thailand

-- Bloomberg Business 2016-03-11

The new era of boat people...

The little general may find a place for him on a fishing boat or in a shrimp shed.

thailand is the last place on earth where somebody should seek asylum. Even in North Korea, anayone would get a better treatement!

Thailand is a colony, of China!

Thailand is a colony, of China!

Your statement shows an extreme lack of education if meant as your belief.

It's not long arm of China's reach Into Thailand that so worrisome as Thai military's focus as to what really threatens Thailand's national security - the Thai populace.

Hope he gets another chance.

Thailand is a colony, of China!

Your statement shows an extreme lack of education if meant as your belief.

But Thailand readily bows to the demands of China because both governments have similar agendas these days, suppression of dissent.

Also, Thailand does not recognize asylum seekers which makes it easy for the immigration to send these people back to their country of origin. Asylum seekers are simply treated as criminals in Thailand, jailed, blacklisted, and kicked out.

Isn't this the same group of people who last week were reported to be tourists on their luxury yacht?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/899805-chinese-family-rescued-after-luxury-yacht-washes-ashore-in-chumphon/

Thailand is a colony, of China!

Your statement shows an extreme lack of education if meant as your belief.

Eeeeer,....nooo, it shows your lack of humour, and sarcasm obviously goes over your head .......dohhh!

It's not long arm of China's reach Into Thailand that so worrisome as Thai military's focus as to what really threatens Thailand's national security - the Thai populace.

I don't understand this post!!!!!

It would be indeed unfortunate if Song was returned back to China , it would seem on the face of it, that persecution for being a free spirit by the Chinese Authorities would occur , therefore it is about time some of the more influential embassy's take a good look into this case and make overtones to this Junta Administration that the international community would take a view of any attempt to deport Song back to China is a violation of human rights and could affect their tourist industry..................................

Thailand is a colony, of China!

Sssh, don't say that. Everyone knows Thailand has never been colonised, not even by the Japanese in WW2, or the Americans in the 60s and 70s ...

And of course, never, ever by the Burmese or Laos people a few hundred years ago ...

I don't suppose they bothered to ask NZ if they would be welcome. But it does seem Oz's illegal immigrant policies are working.