Another Illegal Luxury Villa by Chinese Investors Found on Koh Samui

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22 August 2024, 19:38

samui-aug22-3 — Thai authorities inspect a luxury villa located in the Chaweng Noi mountain area, Bo Phut sub-district, Koh Samui District, Surat Thani Province, on August 22, 2024.

KOH SAMUI — Officials continue the “Samui Model” operation to inspect illegal constructions on Koh Samui again, as they investigate a luxury villa that has appeared in the middle of a mountain, built on a steep slope in a red zone where construction is prohibited.

On August 22, officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, local Koh Samui and Surat Thani authorities, along with 4th Army Region officials, ISOC Region 4, and Bo Phut Police, inspected a luxury villa located in the Chaweng Noi mountain area, Bo Phut sub-district.

Major General Anusorn O-urai, Deputy Commander of the 4th Army Region, stated that ISOC Region 4 received complaints about the luxury villa project, which involves the construction of 7 buildings on steep terrain, suspected to be operated as a hotel. Upon arrival at the construction site, no project owner, caretaker, or construction contractor was found.

samui aug22 2 — Thai authorities inspect a luxury villa located in the Chaweng Noi mountain area, Bo Phut sub-district, Koh Samui District, Surat Thani Province, on August 22, 2024.

Initial slope inspections, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s announcement, revealed that 5 out of 7 buildings are on sloped areas. One building is on a slope exceeding 50%, which is a no-construction zone, and 4 buildings are on slopes of 35-50%, where construction is limited to 6 meters in height as per law.

The working group will further investigate whether land rights documents were issued over public waterways. Meanwhile, Koh Samui district officials checked the e-DOPA License and found no information on hotel business permits or non-hotel accommodation notifications.

Colonel Dusit Ketsornkaew, head of the state land encroachment investigation and problem-solving team of ISOC Region 4, said that while they were monitoring the situation, construction workers were continuously brought in to work. However, on the day of inspection, no workers or project officials were present, making it impossible to conduct any checks.

samui aug22 1 — Thai authorities inspect a luxury villa located in the Chaweng Noi mountain area, Bo Phut sub-district, Koh Samui District, Surat Thani Province, on August 22, 2024.

This suggests that some government officials might be informing these investor groups, which they have long known to be Chinese investors.

He added that the project has 3-4 story buildings, which appears to be illegal. They will ask Koh Samui City Municipality to investigate how building permits were issued, especially for the villa in the red zone where construction is prohibited.

Previously, on August 8, this inspection team, along with police from the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division, civil engineers from Surat Thani Provincial Public Works and Town & Country Planning Office, and Koh Samui City Municipality, supervised the demolition of two buildings on steep terrain in Chaweng Noi mountain, Bo Phut sub-district, Surat Thani province, which violated the Building Control Act.

samui aug8 2 — Thai authorities supervise the demolition of two buildings on steep terrain in Chaweng Noi mountain, Bo Phut sub-district, Surat Thani province, which violated the Building Control Act, on August 8, 2024.

The demolition took weeks due to the inability to bring large machinery to the site.
According to the Building Control Act, Department of Local Administration, Ministry of Interior, those who violate the law face the following penalties:

Construction or modification without permission or deviating from approved plans: imprisonment up to 3 months or a fine up to 60,000 baht, or both, plus a daily fine up to 10,000 baht until compliance.
Violating demolition orders without pending appeals: imprisonment up to 6 months or a fine up to 100,000 baht, or both, plus a daily fine up to 30,000 baht until compliance.
Violating local official orders to halt unauthorized construction or modification, and violating orders prohibiting use or entry of any part of the building: imprisonment up to 6 months or a fine up to 100,000 baht, or both, plus a daily fine up to 30,000 baht until compliance.

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Cinema for All Ages: Pattaya Film Festival 2024 Opens to Public

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Khaosod English

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22 August 2024, 16:24

PATTAYA — The Pattaya Film Festival 2024 is presented from August 21 to 25, featuring more than 20 films from around the world. Screenings are taking place both in theaters and outdoor venues, promoting a diverse film-viewing culture for audiences of all ages. All films will be shown free of charge.

Prachya Unphetwaragon, Deputy Governor of Chonburi Province, inaugurated the Pattaya Film Festival 2024 at Central Marina Shopping Center in Pattaya City, Chonburi Province, on August 21.

The 2nd Pattaya Film Festival held in various venues in Pattaya, such as Central Marina shopping mall, Terminal 21 shopping mall, Burapha University, and Pattaya Redemptorist Technological College for People with Disabilities.

“The films in the festival are divided into the following programs:
International Competition: A selection of quality films with challenging and interesting content by new directors, suitable for both Thai and international audiences. Films compete for a prize of 5,000 US dollars and a trophy. Films in this program include:

Last Shadow at First Light (Singapore)
Gitling (Philippines)
The Monk and the Gun (Bhutan)
The Tenants (South Korea)
Sea Sparkle (Denmark)
The Great Phuket (China)

Panorama: A selection of films that have made a name for themselves at international film festivals in the past year, as well as classic films. Films in this program include:

Next Sohee
The Taste of Things
Ryuichi Sakamoto: Opus
Waltz with Bashir
My Sea Has Slight to Moderate Waves (with director present)
Not So Close (with director present)
One For the Road
Last Life in the Universe
Somsr 422R

Jury Showcase: Three films will be screened in honor of the participating jury members:

Last Time I Saw Macao by Portuguese director Joao Pedro Rodrigues
Tiger Stripes by Malaysian director Amanda Nell Eu
Morrison, a Thai film by Puttipong Aroonpheng

For outdoor screenings at Lan Pho Public Park, Na Kluea Market, the focus is on entertaining films such as “The Undertaker,” (Sup Pa Rer) last year’s hit, and “Pattaya Heat,” the latest action film set in Pattaya.”

The City of Pattaya is leveraging its film festival to achieve multiple goals beyond tourism promotion. The city aims to raise awareness about its cinematic potential, encourage local community participation, and involve film industry professionals. This initiative is expected to stimulate investment, create jobs for locals, and contribute to Thailand’s economic growth.

The second Pattaya Film Festival, a key component of the city’s “City of Film” campaign, offers a diverse program. Activities include film screenings, a competition, the “Documentary Pitch 2024” workshop, tours of film locations, and industry seminars. These events showcase Pattaya’s potential as a prime filming destination.

Pattaya’s ultimate goal is to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in the film category. This ambition is supported by a 2022 Memorandum of Understanding signed with 12 organizations. The agreement aims to propel Pattaya towards UCCN recognition and establish the city as a film industry hub, aligning with the Pattaya City Development Plan (2022-2027).

Through these efforts, Pattaya is positioning itself not just as a tourist destination, but as a significant player in the global film industry.

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Thai Police Bust Asian Scammers: Korean Investors, Chinese Gamblers

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Khaosod English

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22 August 2024, 16:22

BANGKOK — Immigration authorities have arrested two groups of Asians working illegally in Thailand. The first group, made up of South Koreans, rented a luxury condominium in Bangkok’s business district to use as a base of operations for investment fraud. The second group, made up of Chinese nationals who falsely claimed Vanuatu citizenship, is led by a gang leader wanted for online casino crimes.

On August 22, at the Immigration Department office in Muang Thong Thani, Pol. Maj. Gen. Panthana Nuchnarot, deputy commander of the Immigration Department, held a press conference where he announced the arrest of foreign criminals involved in two separate cases in Thailand.

In the first case, officers investigated a condominium in Bangkok’s Ekkamai district after receiving reports that South Koreans had rented a room in a luxury building in Soi Ekkamai 3. They claimed to be running a digital currency office, but their suspicious behavior suggested they might be involved in online gambling or a call center scam.

korean callcenter 2 1 — One of eight Korean gang members displays a computer used as a base for their call center scam.

The room on the 4th floor had frequent visitors from South Korea and bore a sign reading “Content Factory Korea & Thai” Inside, the room was divided into two sections: One contained 8 desktop computers, the other 12. Officers found eight South Koreans posing as stock analysts, experts and brokers from South Korean banks. They lured the victims to a website that mimicked that of a real bank in order to invest there.

The eight South Korean men arrested were: Mr. Jaesuk (26), Mr. Junhee (31), Mr. Woojin (27), Mr. Jae (29), Mr. Sangki (26), Mr. Sanghoon (26), Mr. Hoonjin (26), and Mr. Junghoon (26). They were taken in for questioning, and 17 mobile phones, 4 iPads, and a whiteboard with scripted messages for deceiving victims were seized as evidence.

The South Korean suspects have confessed that they were hired in Thailand to entice clients to invest through the said website in exchange for a percentage of the investment. They were charged with working illegally in Thailand without a work permit and their visas were revoked. Coordination with South Korean police revealed that some of these individuals already had criminal records in South Korea.

korean callcenter 2 3 — The Korean scammers entice clients to invest through the said website in exchange for a percentage of the investment.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Panthana stated that a review of computer data revealed information on more than 100,000 victims per computer. This indicates significant financial damage as the data was obtained from the dark web, including names, phone numbers, investment amounts and risk levels.

The South Korean group had just signed the lease for the room on 1 July, with Mr. Junghoon (26) acting as the leader. The other members gradually entered Thailand on tourist visas and stayed in nearby towns, from where they were picked up daily by van for work.

“We believe there are more members involved because of the large number of computers and that this operation probably has bases in other countries as well. We have found travel records that indicate that some suspects have frequently traveled to neighboring countries. We will therefore coordinate with police forces in other countries to expand the investigation,” said Pol. Maj. Gen. Panthana said.

chinese vanuatu2 — Immigration police officers explain the route taken by Chinese suspects who entered Thailand using Vanuatu passports before three were arrested in Chonburi Province.

In another case, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China has sent a formal request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs asking the Thai authorities to arrest and extradite Mr. Xu, a 47-year-old Chinese national, to face charges of defrauding state and public funds and illegal gambling.

Immigration officers discovered that Mr. Xu had entered Thailand with a Vanuatu passport instead of a Chinese passport. They also found that Ms. Zhang and Mr. Jiang, relatives of Xu, had entered Thailand with passports from Vanuatu. They were arrested at their home in Chonburi province, where authorities confiscated cell phones, laptops and documents related to their false citizenship claims.

Mr. Xu and Ms. Zhang founded the Yingfa organization to operate an online casino based in Manila, Philippines, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Their gambling network processed transactions worth over 55 billion baht. In addition, Mr. Xu ran a call center fraud gang that defrauded its victims through telecommunication systems and whose backend was based in Dubai.

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European Traveler Confirmed as Bringing New Mpox Strain to Thailand

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Khaosod English

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22 August 2024, 15:48

MED WHO Mpox — FILE - This undated image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases shows a colorized transmission electron micrograph of monkeypox particles (red) found within an infected cell (blue), cultured in the laboratory that was captured and color-enhanced at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility in Fort Detrick, Md. (NIAID via AP, File)

BANGKOK — A case of the severe strain of mpox, which is currently spreading rapidly in Africa, has been found as the first case in Thailand. The patient is a foreigner who traveled from Africa.

On August 22, acting Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin confirmed that the first monkeypox case in Thailand, found in a European man who travelled from an African country to Thailand, was of the clade 1b strain.

None of the 43 people at risk due to close exposure to the patient has shown any sign of infection so far. They are under observation by public health officials without the need for a 21-day quarantine.

Previously, on August 21, Dr. Thongchai Keeratihatthayakorn, Director-General of the Department of Disease Control, held a press conference regarding this case of monkeypox (Clade I) at the Department of Disease Control. He stated that this patient is a 66-year-old European who traveled from a country on the African continent with an outbreak of monkeypox Clade I.

“It was a connecting flight, not a direct flight. The patient had very little contact with others because he arrived in Thailand at 6 p.m. on August 14 and went straight to his accommodation. Then, on the morning of August 15, symptoms began to appear with blisters, so he went to the hospital immediately,” said Dr. Thongchai.

The doctor suspected monkeypox infection, so they first tested for Clade IIb, which came back negative. They then tested for Clade Ib, but the results were inconclusive. Therefore, a detailed examination was conducted to obtain definitive confirmation.

monkeypox ministry1 — Dr. Thongchai Keeratihatthayakorn, Director General of the Department of Disease Control, holds a press conference regarding this case at the Department of Disease Control on August 21, 2024.

“Disease control prevention and information awareness are crucial. We don’t want people to panic and self-diagnose. That is why we are holding a press conference today,” said Dr. Thongchai.

He added that this pathogen has many strains, depending on which strain is spreading. In 2022, it was Clade IIb, which was also detected in Thailand with about 800 cases reported in 2022 and about 140 cases in 2023. All of these cases belonged to the Clade IIb strain. The approximately 10 deaths from monkeypox in Thailand were all due to people co-infected with HIV.

Regarding the WHO’s surveillance recommendation, Clade I doesn’t spread as easily as COVID. It requires very close contact, such as sexual intercourse. The Disease Control Department, Ministry of Public Health, has consistently enforced strict control measures at entry points into the country since the WHO increased surveillance levels.

The WHO is particularly concerned about the rising number of cases in Africa, due to the increase in infections in children, suggesting that the virus may spread more easily by means such as saliva droplets. In the past, monkeypox was mainly spread through close contact, especially sexual contact.

“In Thailand, we have tightened controls for travelers entering the country and increased vigilance and public awareness, especially among foreign tourists and sex workers. They need to be more careful and watch out for symptoms such as unusual rashes or lesions on the body,” said Dr. Thongchai.

AP24229665979286 — A woman walks past a sign that reads stop monkeypox at a clinic in Munigi, eastern Congo, Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)

Symptoms to look out for include pustules on the body, fever and headache. If any of these symptoms occur, sufferers should see a doctor immediately and inform the hospital of their risk factors. The doctors will carry out a test for monkeypox. If a sample is found, it will be sent to the Department of Medical Sciences for identification of the strain of the pathogen and further monitoring.

Dr. Yongyos Thammawut, director-general of the Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, added that the department is closely monitoring monkeypox strains in Thailand through regular laboratory tests.

Recently, complete genome sequencing of 191 samples identified eight substrains: A.2, A.2.1, B.1, B.1.12, B.1.3, B.1.7, C.1, and C.1.1. The C.1 substrain was the most prevalent, accounting for 85.34% of cases, followed by A.2.1 (5.76 percent), C.1.1 (3.66 percent), and A.2 (2.09 percent). The C.1 substrain is now the predominant strain in Thailand, unlike in the early stages of the outbreak when A.2 was more prevalent. This indicates ongoing viral evolution and mutation accumulation as the virus adapts over time.

monkeypox un2 — WHO is scaling up response to curb a growing mpox outbreak in the African region. WHO/Katson Maliro

Currently, monkeypox viruses are divided into three main strains: Clade I, clade IIa and clade IIb. Sub-strain C.1 is considered less severe than the other strains, particularly Clade I, which is spreading in Africa and has a mortality rate of up to 10 percent. In contrast, clade II, including C.1, has a mortality rate of less than 1 percent in people with normal immune systems.

The Department of Medical Sciences, along with the Public Health Sciences Research Institute and Medical Sciences Centers and a network of 62 laboratories, is prepared to test for monkeypox.

Results can be reported within 24 hours and cover 24 provinces including Bangkok, Khon Kaen, Chonburi, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Trang, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nakhon Sawan, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Phitsanulok, Phuket, Ratchaburi, Lampang, Songkhla, Samut Prakan, Samut Songkhram, Sa Kaeo, Saraburi, Surat Thani, Udon Thani, and Ubon Ratchathani.

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Thailand Tackles ‘Cheap Travel’ Issues Despite Chinese Top Foreign Tourists

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Khaosod English

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22 August 2024, 14:53

Chinese tourists — Tourists board a boat to visit Koh Larn at Bali Hai Pier, South Pattaya, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province, on August 11, 2024.

BANGKOK — The free visa policy for 53 countries/territories has led to a continuous increase in the number of tourists entering Thailand, with Chinese tourists ranking first. However, there are growing concerns that money is not flowing into Thailand as it should because Chinese zero-dollar tours have returned.

According to Tourism and Sports Economic Division, from January 1 to August 18, 2024, Thailand received a total of 22,474,172 foreign tourists who generated revenue of 1.05 trillion baht through their spending. The five countries with the highest number of tourists are China (4,555,262), Malaysia (3,104,092), India (1,294,076), South Korea (1,193,255) and Russia (1,053,724).

Although Chinese tourists top the list, Thailand faces challenges related to market-disrupting tours [The practice of foreign tour companies using Thai nominees to bring foreign tour groups to Thailand involves offering the lowest possible prices — “underbidding with a willingness to take a loss” — to put Thai tour companies out of business and drive them out of the market].

chiangmai 1 2024 — Tourists visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in Mueang District, Chiang Mai Province, on August 11, 2024.

Sermsak Pongpanich, the Minister of Tourism and Sports mentioned that the government is continuously monitoring and addressing these issues. Officials are investigating any hidden registration of intellectual property, which is critical because certain laws do not make it easy for foreigners to do business in Thailand.

“I urge Thai citizens to monitor and inform the authorities, especially in cases where foreigners use Thai nominees to register businesses that they cannot operate themselves in the country. This vigilance is important because it protects our national interests. The money earned by foreign tourists should circulate in the country and benefit Thai traders,” he said on August 21.

Sermsak also mentioned that since taking office, he has discussed cooperation with the Chinese government to seriously tackle the problem of market-disrupting tours. The cooperation has been positive and continuous talks are being held to address the issues as China also does not want any negative incidents that could harm the good relations between the two countries.

In terms of domestic tourism, Somrudi Jitjong, Deputy Governor for Domestic Marketing at the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), stated that the TAT is confident of achieving the 2024 target of 200 million domestic trips, an increase of 25 percent from 2023, or returning to 2019 levels before the COVID-19 pandemic. This is expected to generate about 1.08 trillion baht in the economy.

At the same time, the TAT is working to drive domestic tourism campaigns in line with the government’s policy to promote domestic tourism, with the aim of increasing the number of trips to 210 million and generating 1.2 trillion baht for the economy.

The campaign includes partnerships, such as at the 71st Thai Tiew Thai event at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, taking place from 22-25 August, where the “FLASH DEAL: Instant Happiness in the Rainy Season” campaign will offer travel packages, hotels and other services for 999 baht. In addition, TAT is working with airlines to prepare a “Super Deal” campaign on September 9, offering special ticket prices on weekdays (Monday-Thursday) from 9 September to 15 December 2024.

In September, the “Charming Thailand” event will also take place simultaneously in five regions of Thailand: Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Pattaya, Kanchanaburi and Nakhon Si Thammarat.

“Overall, domestic tourism is developing better this year than in 2019, which is no cause for concern. However, purchasing power is adjusting to the country’s economic conditions. Therefore, the TAT is focusing on increasing the number of tourists to stimulate more spending so that the government’s target is within reach.”

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Shocking Bathroom Encounter in Bangkok: Python Bites Man’s Testicle

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Khaosod English

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21 August 2024, 23:36

In shock, a resident in Bangkok grabs the python's neck and yanks it off when it emerges from the toilet.

BANGKOK — A resident in Bangkok, Thanat Tangtewanont, gave an interview to “Khaosod Online” about his viral post describing an incident where a python nearly 2 meters long bit his testicle while he was sitting on the toilet at home.

He recounted that the incident occurred on August 19. He woke up to use the bathroom on the second floor of his house. He had previously seen snakes in the downstairs toilet and had called for help to catch them several times, but they always escaped. As a result, he had closed off the downstairs bathroom for a month and started using the upstairs one instead.

That morning, he used the upstairs bathroom twice. The first time, around 5 to 6 a.m., everything seemed normal. The second time, around 10 a.m., he flushed the toilet before sitting down and saw the water flow normally.

While sitting and using his phone, he felt something touch his testicles. At first, it felt like an ant bite, so he ignored it. When the bite became stronger and more painful, he stood up and looked down to see a python latched onto him. In shock, he grabbed its neck and yanked it off. He then tried to pull the snake up, not wanting it to roam around the house anymore.

snake bite 3 0 — The resident hurts the python until it slithers out of the toilet.

He recorded a video, intending to show his girlfriend that a snake, which he didn’t think could reach the second floor, had bitten him. He tried calling several people, but no one answered.

After trying to pull the snake out for about 10 minutes without success, he draped its head over the toilet bowl and, in anger, hit its head several times with his hand and a toilet brush. The snake went still for a moment before finally slithering out of the toilet.

At this point, a neighbor called back, and Thanat asked them to call security to help remove the snake. He then rushed to the hospital. The first hospital noted a 1 cm wound and advised him to go to a larger hospital.

At the second hospital, the doctor said the wound didn’t need stitches but ordered a blood test to check for infections, despite the snake being non-venomous. The blood test results came back normal, and he was prescribed antibiotics. He still has some pain around the wound area.

Thanat said he’s still traumatized when using the bathroom. Even after flushing, he feels scared and now keeps a toilet brush nearby for protection.

“I want to warn everyone that this kind of incident can happen,” he said. “I think the snake might have been in the pipes because the neighboring house also found a snake in their toilet, though it was a different one from the one that bit me.”

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Indonesia Searches for Ways to Balance Domestic Industries With Surging Chinese Imports

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Associated Press

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21 August 2024, 23:11

Indonesia China Tariffs — Workers inspect clothing products at Asnur Konveksi, a garment manufacturer in Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia, on July 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — A flood of Chinese products into Indonesia has hit local manufacturers hard, prompting the government to look for ways to placate domestic producers while avoiding angering the country’s biggest trading partner.

Garment makers — both home-based piece work producers and factories — have appealed for help as they lose market share to low-cost apparel and textiles from China. A surge of products bought online has added to the problem.

A protest by workers in Jakarta prompted Indonesian Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan to announce in July that the government will impose import tariffs of up to 200% on some products from China, particularly textiles, clothing, footwear, electronics, ceramics and cosmetics, to try to protect local businesses and prevent layoffs.

“The United States can impose a 200% tariff on imported ceramics or clothes, so we can do it as well,” Zulkifli said, to ensure micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises and industries “survive and thrive.”

But China is Indonesia’s largest trading partner, with two-way trade exceeding $127 billion in 2023. Imposing higher tariffs could prompt Chinese manufacturers to invest in more in factories in Indonesia, but could also backfire, leading Beijing to retaliate. As a result, the government announced in July that it was setting up a task force to monitor and handle problems related to certain imports.

AP24233175487339 — Workers sit in their stations at a factory belonging to PT Eksonindo Multi Product Industry, a manufacturer of garments and bag products, in Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia, July 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

It’s an urgent matter, Hasan said, given the flood of imported products that has caused closures of textile factories and mass layoffs. From January to July 2024, at least 12 textile factories shut down operations, causing more than 12,000 workers to lose their jobs, according to the Nusantara Trade Union Confederation.

In Bandung district in Indonesia’s West Java province — an area famous for textiles such as batiks, handwoven fabrics and silks — imports of Chinese products have left thousands of workers idle and without regular incomes, said Neng Wati, a manager at manufacturing company Asnur Konveksi.

“Now they take turns. The number of workers stays the same, but the work is divided up and not all get some. Some of them have been off for two weeks, some of them haven’t gotten work for a month,” Wati said.

That’s a hard blow coming after the slow days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when many workers were shifted to e-commerce to make ends meet, said Nandi Herdiaman, head of a local organization of small- and medium-sized entrepreneurs. Only 60% of the 8,000 members of the association kept working after the pandemic.

AP24204148652617 — A worker arranges fabric rolls at a factory belonging to PT Eksonindo Multi Product Industry, a manufacturer of garment and bag products, in Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia, on July 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

Now, the biggest challenge is cheap imports from China. In the past two months, output from home-based industries has fallen by 70%, the industry organization says.

The uptick in imports of Chinese products is partly seen as the result of trade friction between the U.S. and China, which has led to increased American tariffs on Chinese goods. But it also reflects rising trade within Asia as the region implements various free trade pacts, as well as weakening demand in Western markets for Chinese exports.

Industry groups in Thailand have also expressed increasing concern about an influx of cheap products from China, which they say have greatly hurt sales by domestic producers who are unable to compete.

In what it called an urgent measure, the Thai government imposed a 7% value-added tax on all imported products, a change from the previous rule that only collected taxes on imported products that cost more than 1,500 baht ($44). The policy is only in effect from July until December this year to give the government time to study the issue before a longer-term solution can be applied.

AP24204136123415 — An employee works at PT Eksonindo Multi Product Industry, a manufacturer of garment and bag products, in Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia, on July 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

In December, Indonesia issued a regulation to tighten monitoring of more than 3,000 imported goods, including food ingredients, electronics and chemicals. But the regulation was reversed after domestic industry said it hindered the flow of imported materials needed for local production, and the government began considering steep tariff hikes instead.

While smaller manufacturers have suffered the greatest setbacks, big factories are also hurting.

Jany Suhertan, managing director of PT Eksonindo Multi Product Industry, which makes clothing and accessories like backpacks and handbags in West Java, wants the government to raise import duties on finished goods from China but not on raw materials needed to make products in Indonesia.

Nearly half of the materials his company uses are from China.

“I don’t agree with imposing (higher tariffs) on raw products, since the government should protect the supply chain. If it is not secure, it will impact production,” Suhertan said.

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Chinese Investors Build Factories in ‘Chonburi-Rayong’, Land Prices Rise

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Khaosod English

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21 August 2024, 22:50

rayong-esie — Nikhom Phatthana and Pluak Daeng areas

BANGKOK — Meesak Chunharakchoti, former president of the Thai Real Estate Association, revealed that Chinese investors are increasingly buying land outside industrial estates in the Rayong region, such as in Nikhom Phatthana, Bo Win and Pluak Daeng districts, to set up factories to support investment in electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing in Thailand. Land prices in the industrial estates are relatively high, with some negotiations leading to discounts of up to 50 percent.

As for the real estate business, the situation remains unclear, but some investors have shown interest in partnering with local developers, possibly due to the current slowdown in the real estate market, which presents opportunities for investors.

Premsorn Sriviboonchai, Honorary Advisor to the Rayong Real Estate Trade Association, stated that Chinese investors are currently seeking to purchase land for building supply chain factories that support larger plants.

Most of the land sought is in the Nikhom Phatthana and Pluak Daeng areas, with desired land sizes ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 rai, causing land prices to double from 2 million baht per rai two years ago to 4 million baht ($117k) per rai now. In other zones, land prices are relatively high, such as in the Map Ta Phut area.

[ please note: Rai is the largest unit of land measurement in Thailand. It is commonly used for larger land areas, such as agricultural land, houses, and villas. One rai is equivalent to 1,600 square meters or approximately 0.40 acres.]

Premsorn also mentioned that land prices for housing projects have also doubled. In the Map Ta Phut area, for example, where the land is mainly forested, prices have risen from 2 million baht per rai to 4-6 million baht per rai.

bowin1 — Overpass at the intersection of Bo Win Industrial Estate / Eastern Seaboard / Amata City and Pak Ruam Junction, Chonburi Province.

Once the land is purchased, further investment is required to prepare the area, driving up project development costs. However, house prices cannot increase accordingly, which could lead to a trend of more expensive and smaller houses in Rayong in the future.

Wattana Phonchiwin, president of the Chonburi Real Estate Association, noted that the situation of Chinese capital flowing into the Chonburi region is not significantly different from previous investments in projects in the Pattaya region.

The most recent trend observed is the purchase of land outside industrial areas, especially in purple zones, for the construction of factories to support automobile production and the acquisition of businesses from closed factories rather than investing in housing.

In addition, most Chinese workers prefer to rent apartments rather than buy them, with the rental period in residential projects where owners rent out their properties usually ranging from 3 to 5 years.

Chinese investors who buy land do so under legal entities, as foreigners are not allowed to own land. Land prices in Chonburi remain stable overall as there are more sellers than buyers, giving buyers more bargaining power than in the past. However, some areas have seen an increase in prices, such as Ban Bueng and Nong Yai, where prices have risen 20-30 percent from 2-3 million baht per rai to 3-4 million baht per rai following the development of new industrial estates.

“In areas with established industrial estates, prices are rising annually, such as Laem Chabang, Phan Thong, Amata and Si Racha, where the average price is 10 million baht per rai. In Pattaya, prices range from 10 to 100 million baht per rai, depending on whether the land is near hills or the sea,” Wattana said.

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Phuket Mall Becomes Unlikely Scene of Farang and Chinese Conflict

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Khaosod English

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21 August 2024, 16:46

farang china1 — Screenshots from a Chinese woman's recording show when she and her mother confronted their counterparts, an expat and his Thai wife, in front of the Hermès store and at the exit of a department store in the heart of Phuket on August 19, 2024.

PHUKET — International incident took place at Phuket’s department stores between Chinese women and a male expat along with Thai wife, assault claims and counter-claims.

On August 21, Pol. Lt. Col. Yutthaphon Promdao, an investigator at the Wichit Police Station in Phuket, received a complaint from Ms. Yoyo and Ms. W, both Chinese nationals. They reported that at around 2:10 p.m. on August 19, Miss W, the mother of Miss Yoyo, was visiting the Phuket Foresta shopping mall with Miss Yoyo’s children when they became involved in an altercation with a foreign man and a Thai woman, as a result of which they were assaulted.

Ms. Yoyo stated that the incident occurred in front of the Hermès store. Her mother accidentally bumped into the male expat, whereupon she immediately offered a wai (a traditional Thai gesture of apology).

However, the expat responded with vulgar language. Ms. Yoyo then asked the foreigner in English, “What did you say? Who are you insulting?” The man then approached her and kicked her, causing her to fall to the ground. Her mother rushed over and helped her up.

farang china2 — Miss Yoyo gives an interview to the media about the incident involving a dispute with an expat in a department store in Phuket.

Subsequently, a Thai woman, believed to be the wife of the expat, also came over and pushed her again. Ms. Yoyo then called her Thai husband, informing him that she was being assaulted inside the mall and asked him to contact the police. At this point, the foreign man and the Thai woman attempted to leave.

Ms. Yoyo followed them, asking them to stay until the police arrived, but they refused to stop. She then grabbed hold of the foreign man, leading to a struggle that left her injured. The expat and the Thai woman eventually exited the mall through the front door and left in a taxi heading towards Kathu District on Wichit Songkhram Road. Ms. Yoyo recorded the taxi’s license plate number and provided it to the police.

Following the incident, Ms. Yoyo went to Vachira Phuket Hospital for a medical examination and then proceeded to Wichit Police Station to file a complaint, requesting the police to track down and prosecute both individuals involved.

A video clip of the incident was shared on the Facebook page “Hod Jung Phuket,” lasting 3 minutes and 19 seconds. The post described the incident as a heated altercation between foreigners in a famous Phuket mall, noting that the Chinese victim had already filed a police report, alleging that she was assaulted by a male expat after he bumped into her and failed to apologize.

The post drew numerous comments from internet users, many of whom noted that Thailand has become a battleground for foreigners and that neither party in the dispute is willing to back down.

Most recently, officials have scheduled a meeting for the lawyers of both parties to meet with the investigating officers this Wednesday evening.

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Japanese Man Loses $9k in Visa Scam and Police Deception

By

Khaosod English

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21 August 2024, 13:25

BANGKOK — A Japanese businessman working in Thailand lost over 300,000 baht from being tricked into applying for a permanent visa. When he went to file a complaint, he was allegedly further extorted by cyber police for another 10,000 baht.

On August 21, Shinichi Maeda, a 51-year-old Japanese national and clothing export businessman in the Bobae-Pratunam area who exports to Japan, along with his secretary, Ms. Namtan, 34, met with Pol.Lt.Col. Natee Wuttiphathorn, an inquiry officer at Division 1, Investigation Bureau, at the Complaint Center of the Central Investigation Bureau to file charges against those who deceived him, including state officials who subsequently scammed him.

Shinichi said that in 2019, he wanted to apply for a permanent resident visa in Thailand. He consulted with the accounting company he had hired, which introduced him to a man named “Tong” who claimed he could process a permanent visa. Shinichi believed him and transferred some money for the process. In 2020, Tong informed him that the visa process would be delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2022, Tong contacted him again asking for more money, claiming progress on the permanent visa. Shinichi then transferred money 16 times, ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 baht each time, totaling over 300,000 baht ($8,760). However, there was no progress after that. After two years passed, he consulted with friends and became convinced he had been scammed.

Shinichi said that after realizing he might have been deceived, he filed a complaint at Phetkasem Police Station for fraud charges against Tong. Someone then advised him to also report to the Technology Crime Suppression Division or cyber police. A cyber police officer suggested he change the case to a loan agreement, converting it from a criminal to a civil case to recover the money.

“This officer told me he would help process it, but I needed to pay a ‘coffee fee’ of 5,000 baht ($146) and he also borrowed another 5,000 baht. I gave him the money, but there was no progress in the case. So I came to file a complaint at the Crime Suppression Division today because I want my money back. If I can’t get it back, I want legal action to be taken,” he said.

Initially, the inquiry officer has taken the victim’s statement as evidence before submitting the matter to superiors for further orders.

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