Chinese envoy asks Thais not to use “grey Chinese” term

13 Sept 13:15 Key points summarised by AI

China's Ambassador urged Thailand to stop using the term “grey Chinese” for criminals, stating it unfairly stigmatizes all Chinese nationals and makes China feel Thailand is being unfriendly.
Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul agreed that while lawbreakers must face legal action, they should not be unfairly grouped by nationality.
The term arose amid growing concerns over illegal businesses and foreign nationals, including Chinese, using Thailand’s tourism sector as a cover for unlawful activities.
The Thai government is actively cracking down on illegal operations, focusing on raising tourism quality, and implementing measures like shorter visa-free stays and AI-equipped cameras to screen visitors and monitor unlawful acts.

Nationwide crackdown launched on illegal nominee shareholders and land holdings

Yesterday 15:20 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul initiated a nationwide crackdown on illegal Thai nominee shareholders in foreign-run businesses and land holdings to safeguard national interests.
The government will integrate efforts across all relevant agencies to target illicit foreign operations, forced sales of illegally acquired property, and high-risk land ownership schemes.
Key strategies include auditing suspect land and building holdings, establishing a long-term monitoring system, and cross-referencing data from various authorities to trace ultimate beneficial owners.
Prime Minister Anutin emphasized that no influential figures or corrupt officials are above the law, promising straightforward prosecution, asset seizures, and protection for enforcing officers.
Beyond land ownership, the integrated crackdown will also extend to tackle transnational crimes, including drug and human trafficking.