Asia Travel Hotspots Quiet as Chinese Tourists Stay Away

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26 January 2023, 11:00

Dragon and Lion performers welcome a Chinese tourist arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023. Photo: Gerard V. Carreon / AP

CHIANG MAI, Thailand (AP) — Just a handful of Chinese visitors were posing for photos and basking in the sun this week in the market and plazas near Chiang Mai’s ancient Tha Phae Gate, one of many tourist hotspots still waiting for millions of Chinese travelers to return.

The beaches and temples of destinations like Bali and Chiang Mai are the busiest they have been since the pandemic struck three years ago, but they’re still relatively quiet.

Still, Chanatip Pansomboon, a soft drinks seller in the Chinatown district of Chiang Mai, a scenic riverside city in northern Thailand, was upbeat. He trusts that with the number of flights from China steadily increasing, it’s only a matter of time.

“If a lot of them can return, it will be great as they have buying power,” Chanatip said.

The expected resumption of group tours from China is likely to bring far more visitors. For now, it’s only individual travelers who can afford to pay, with flights costing more than triple what they normally do, who are venturing abroad.

This includes people like Chen Jiao Jiao, a doctor who was posing for pictures with her children in front of Tha Phae Gate’s red brick wall, escaping the damp chill of Shanghai to enjoy Chiang Mai’s warm sun and cool breezes on her first overseas vacation since the virus surfaced in China in early 2020.

“After three years of pandemic and a severe winter, now it’s opening up,” Chen said. “For we Chinese, the first choice is to visit Chiang Mai because the weather is warm and the people here are very warmhearted.”

In 2019, 1.2 million Chinese tourists visited Chiang Mai, generating 15 billion baht ($450 million) of tourism-related income, money sorely missed across the region as countries shut their borders to most travel.

Group tours are due to resume from Feb. 6, but the number of tourists who will come will depends on how many flights are operating, said Suladda Sarutilawan, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Chiang Mai office. She said the hope is for about 500,000-600,000 visitors from China this year.

Of course more Chinese would like to visit, said Li Wei, a businessman from Shanghai, as he visited the ancient wall with his extended family of seven.

“Since visas and flights are not back to normal yet, maybe tourists will come in the next three months,” Li said.

Far to the south, on the tropical Indonesian resort island of Bali, the shops and restaurants — some decorated with festive red lanterns and red and gold envelopes used for Lunar New Year cash presents — were still relatively empty.

Bali’s first post-pandemic direct flight from China arrived on Sunday, bringing 210 tourists from the southern city of Shenzhen who were greeted with garlands of marigolds and dance performances.

“Before COVID, we worked with travel agents who handled Chinese tourists who brought us guests from China everyday, but since they closed down there are far fewer guests,” said Made Sutarma, a seafood restaurant owner in Bali’s Jimbaran area.

After three long years of almost no customers, Nyoman Wisana, the general manager of a Chinese restaurant, said he was “very happy” to see Chinese tourists return.

Fewer than 23,000 Chinese tourists visited Bali from January-November of last year and only a quarter of the island’s 80 tour operators who mostly handle Chinese clients are operating, said Putu Winastra, chairman of the Bali Association of Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies.

“Actually, we’re very concerned about this,” he said.

Indonesia is developing programs to attract more Chinese tourists, including exploring starting direct flights from major cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, he said.

Those who did visit this week seemed elated after enduring many months of strict pandemic controls that put international travel beyond the reach of almost all Chinese.

“I’m feeling fantastic since I haven’t gone abroad and haven’t come to Southeast Asia to spend my holidays for the last three years,” said Li Zhaolong, a tourist enjoying a day at the beach. “Bali is a very beautiful place so I’m very happy coming here.”

Closer to home, casinos in the gambling enclave of Macao and popular tourist spots in Hong Kong, a former British colony, drew bigger crowds than usual but were still empty compared to the days before COVID-19. Normally, places like Hong Kong’s scenic Ocean Park and Wong Tai Sin temple, with its Nine-Dragon Wall, would be packed with visitors from the Chinese mainland.

Leo Guo, who works in the travel industry, brought his wife, daughter, sister and parents for a week filled with visits to Hong Kong Disneyland, Victoria Peak and the skyline-studded harbor, and of course, shopping.

“For mainland Chinese, Hong Kong is a special city different from other Chinese cities,” said Lee. “It’s a top destination for us.”

Further afield in Australia, Sydney-based travel agent Eric Wang said the high cost of travel still appears to be keeping Chinese away even as Chinese airlines increase flights.

Chinese accounted for nearly a third of all tourism spending in Australia before the pandemic, with more than 1.4 million visiting in 2019. Australia, like Japan, the U.S. and some other countries, is requiring visitors coming from China to take COVID-19 tests before departure. But Wang, who works for CBT Holidays, a company specializing in travel to and from China, said he didn’t view that as a serious obstacle.

“It’s more about the airlines, because flights are not back to normal frequency yet so air fares are like five times more expensive,” he said.

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Story: Tassanee Vejpongsa and Elaine Kurtenbach. Kurtenbach reported from Bangkok. Sigit Purwono in Bali, Indonesia, Rod McGuirk in Canberra, Australia, Alice Fung in Hong Kong and Edna Tarigan in Jakarta, Indonesia, contributed to this report.

Suspect in Shootings at Half Moon Bay Farms Was Employee

By

Associated Press

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25 January 2023, 11:30

FBI officials walk towards the crime scene at Mountain Mushroom Farm, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, after a gunman killed several people at two agricultural businesses in Half Moon Bay, Calif. Photo: Aaron Kehoe / AP

HALF MOON BAY, Calif. (AP) — A farmworker killed seven people in back-to-back shootings in a case of “workplace violence” at two Northern California mushroom farms, officials said Tuesday as the state mourned its third mass killing in just over a week.

Chunli Zhao, 66, was booked on suspicion of seven counts of murder and one count of attempted murder, jail records showed. He was being held without bail and scheduled for a Wednesday court appearance.

Authorities believe Zhao acted alone when he entered a mushroom farm in Half Moon Bay, California, and opened fire, killing four and leaving another seriously wounded, San Mateo County Sheriff’s officials said. He then drove to another nearby farm where he had previously worked, and killed another three people, said Eamonn Allen, a sheriff’s spokesman.

Officials have not yet released the names of the five men and two women who died, nor the one man who was injured. Some were Asian and others were Hispanic, and some were migrant workers.

Servando Martinez Jimenez said his brother Marciano Martinez Jimenez, who was a delivery person and manager at one of the farms, was among those killed. Servando Martinez Jimenez said his brother never mentioned Zhao or said anything about problems with other workers.

“He was a good person. He was polite and friendly with everyone. He never had any problems with anyone. I don’t understand why all this happened,” Martinez Jimenez said in Spanish outside his Half Moon Bay home.

Marciano Martinez Jimenez, 50, had lived in the United States for 28 years after arriving from the Mexican state of Oaxaca. Servando Martinez Jimenez said he is working with the Mexican consulate to get his brother’s body home.

Allen declined to answer questions about whether Zhao had any previous criminal history, saying, “there were no specific indicators that would have led us to believe he was capable of something like this.”

But would not have been Zhao’s first fit of workplace rage, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. In 2013 Zhao was accused of threatening to split a coworker’s head open with a knife and separately tried to suffocate the man with a pillow, the Chronicle reported, based on court documents.

The two were roommates and worked at a restaurant at the time, and the man, identified as Jingjiu Wang, filed a temporary restraining order against Zhao that was granted but is no longer in effect. Wang could not be immediately reached, the Chronicle reported.

The sheriff’s office identified the first shooting location as Mountain Mushroom Farm. But California Terra Garden took over the business last year, company spokesperson David Oates said. He did not know how long Zhao worked there, adding that he was one of 35 employees who had stayed on when ownership changed. Oates declined to provide details of the four slain workers.

The site of the second shooting was nearby Concord Farms. Owner Aaron Tung said in a statement that the farm was waiting for more information before it could comment.

Half Moon Bay is a small, laid-back, coastal and agricultural city about 30 miles (50 kilometers) south of San Francisco. Its sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean make it a popular spot for hikers and tourists, who flock there to surf and for an annual giant pumpkin festival.

Several farmworkers and their families lived in mobile homes at the the mushroom farm where the four died and had been relocated to hotels and offered mental health and other support after the shootings, said Half Moon Bay Vice Mayor Joaquin Jimenez. He said the farm employs 20 to 30 Chinese and Latino workers, some of them in the country without legal permission.

“There’s a lot of fear,” said Jimenez, who is also the farmworker program director for the Latino advocacy group ALAS. “So for them to come forward to ask for help is going to be very difficult,”

Thousands of farmworkers are employed in the broader San Mateo County, an area known for growing mostly flowers, peas, Brussels sprouts and fava beans. There are a few small mushroom growers in the area, said BJ Burns, president of the San Mateo County Farm Bureau.

California was still reeling from an attack in Monterey Park, just outside Los Angeles, that killed 11 and cast a shadow over celebrations of Lunar New Year, an important holiday for many Asian American communities. Authorities are still seeking a motive for the Saturday shooting.

“For the second time in recent days, California communities are mourning the loss of loved ones in a senseless act of gun violence,” President Joe Biden said Tuesday. “Even as we await further details on these shootings, we know the scourge of gun violence across America requires stronger action.”

The new year has brought six mass killings in the U.S. in fewer than three weeks, accounting for 39 deaths. Three have occurred in California since Jan. 16, according to a database compiled by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University. The database tracks every mass killing — defined as four dead, not including the offender — in the U.S. since 2006.

At an afternoon news conference, Gov. Gavin Newsom said he met with Chinese farmworkers who heard the gunshots. Speaking through a translator, they said it was hard to comprehend what was happening, he said.

“They had never heard a sound like that,” he said.

The shooting was likely to leave some in the community fearful and searching for other work, he said.

“The trauma and the damage, the devastation, is felt for generations in some cases, communities being torn asunder no one feeling safe,” Newsom said.

The shootings in Half Moon Bay and Monterey Park followed the killing of a teenage mother, her baby and six others at a home in California’s Central Valley on Jan. 16. Officials discussing the investigation mentioned a possible gang link to the killings.

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Story: Olga R. Rodriguez and Haven Daley. Associated press writers Jocelyn Gecker and Janie Har in San Francisco and Sophie Austin in Sacramento, Calif., contributed.

In Reversal, US Poised To Approve Abrams Tanks for Ukraine

By

Associated Press

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25 January 2023, 11:00

FILE - A soldier walks past a line of M1 Abrams tanks, Nov. 29, 2016, at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colo. Photo: Christian Murdock/The Gazette via AP File

WASHINGTON (AP) — In what would be a reversal, the Biden administration is poised to approve sending M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, U.S. officials said Tuesday, as international reluctance to send tanks to the battlefront against the Russians begins to erode. A decision to send a bit more than 30 tanks could be announced as soon as Wednesday, though it could take months for the tanks to be delivered.

U.S. officials said details are still being worked out. One official said the tanks would be bought under an upcoming Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative package, which provides longer-range funding for weapons and equipment to be purchased from commercial vendors.

The U.S. announcement is expected in coordination with an announcement by Germany that it will approve Poland’s request to transfer German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, according to one official. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision has not yet been made public.

By agreeing to send the Abrams at an as-yet unspecified time under the assistance initiative, the administration is able to meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s demand for an American commitment without having to send the tanks immediately.

Much of the aid sent so far in the 11-month-old war has been through a separate program drawing on Pentagon stocks to get weapons more quickly to Ukraine. But even under that program, it would take months to get tanks to Ukraine and to get Ukrainian forces trained on them. It wasn’t clear Tuesday how soon the U.S. will start training Ukrainian troops on the Abrams and roughly how soon they can get to the battlefront.

Until now, the U.S. has resisted providing its own M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, citing extensive and complex maintenance and logistical challenges with the high-tech vehicles. Washington believes it would be more productive to send German Leopards since many allies have them and Ukrainian troops would need less training than on the more difficult Abrams.

Just last week, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl told reporters that the Abrams is a complicated, expensive, difficult to maintain and hard to train on piece of equipment. One thing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been very focused on, he said, “is that we should not be providing the Ukrainians systems they can’t repair, they can’t sustain, and that they, over the long term, can’t afford, because it’s not helpful.”

A U.S. official familiar with White House thinking said the administration’s initial hesitancy was based on concerns about the requisite training and the sustainment of the tanks. The official added that the administration believes that such plans are now in place, but it could take time to implement them.

At the Pentagon, spokesman Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said he had nothing to announce on any U.S. decision regarding Abrams tanks. But he said, “anytime that we’ve provided Ukraine with a type of system, we’ve provided the training and sustainment capabilities with that.”

The administration’s reversal comes just days after a coalition of more than 50 senior defense officials from Europe and beyond met in Germany to discuss Ukraine’s war needs, and battle tanks were a prime topic.

Ukrainian leaders have been urgently requesting tanks, but Germany had resisted mounting pressure either to supply its own tanks or clear the way for other countries, such as Poland, to send the German-made tanks from their own stocks. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the deployment of Western tanks would trigger “unambiguously negative” consequences.

Defense leaders from the countries that have Leopard 2 tanks met with the Germans during the Friday conference at Ramstein Air Base in an effort to hammer out an agreement.

On Sunday, Berlin indicated it wouldn’t stand in the way if other countries wanted to send the Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv. Germany needs to agree for the tanks to be given to Ukraine, which is not a member of NATO.

U.S. and German officials have given mixed signals about whether the U.S. and German decisions are linked, and whether Berlin was hesitant to send its tanks unless the U.S. sent Abrams.

Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak said Tuesday that Poland has officially requested permission from Germany to transfer its Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine.

German officials confirmed to the dpa news agency they had received the application and said it would be assessed “with due urgency.” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Sunday that Berlin wouldn’t seek to stop Poland from providing the high-tech armor to Kyiv.

German officials declined to comment on the reports of a tank deal. The news weekly Der Spiegel reported Tuesday, without citing a source, that Germany will provide Ukraine with at least one company of Leopard 2 tanks from its own army’s stock. A company comprises 15 tanks.

Scholz is due to deliver an address to parliament Wednesday and field questions from lawmakers, many of whom have been pressing the government to join allies in providing the tanks to Ukraine.

Lawmakers in Congress have also been pushing the U.S. to beef up its aid to Ukraine.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday “it’s time, past time” for the Biden administration and allies to send more military aid to Ukraine, and that the U.S. must provide more tanks and weapons to help Ukraine “win this war.”

“It’s time, past time, for the Biden administration and our allies to get serious about helping Ukraine finish the job and retake their country.”

The likely plans to send the Abrams were first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

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Story: Lolita C. Baldor and Matthew Lee. Associated Press writers Tara Copp, Kevin Freking and Aamer Madhani contributed to this report.

‘Blue Tree Phuket’ highlights its postponing as Phuket’s top venue for international events

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Contributor

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24 January 2023, 17:22

Blue Tree Phuket, a second-to-none entertainment hub on the famous Thai resort island, shows its potential to be a new world-class event venue with its recent successful concert from ‘Basta’, the best-known Russian rapper and hip-hop artist.

Basta’s phenomenal concert wowed a crowd of 3,000 hip-hop fans singing and dancing at Blue Tree’s 4,000-square-meter concert venue earlier this year.

Blue Tree is the best event venue in Phuket that is big enough for up to 4,000 people and offers state-of-art facilities where hygiene and safety are guaranteed. It offers different zones for holding events, for example, Basta’s concert was held in the Forest Park or a Hip-Hop concert played at the Crystal Lagoon zone.

“We are proud to be a part of this huge international concert, which seldom happens in Phuket. We are committed to bringing more international artists and entertainers to Blue Tree and making us the top venue for outdoor events and concerts in Thailand and Southeast Asia,” says Mr. Christian Noret, Managing Director of Blue Tree Phuket.

With its slogan ‘Entertainment Hub, Thrill & Chill, Day and Night’, an event’s participants can also enjoy a broad range of sports and fun activities in its complex such as padel tennis, zip lining, mountain biking, and skateboarding. Or they can chill out at the Beach Club where it offers a Blue Tree lagoon view with a variety of menus and homemade Cocktails.

Not only Basta’s phenomenal concert, Blue Tree also succeeded in organizing other international events such as the Spartan APAC Championship 2022, the world’s best obstacle race. In 2023, it plans to attract more exciting events, including the ‘Blue Tree Magic Forest DJ Festival’ where plenty of the world-renowned DJs are being gathered to entertain everyone in the end of March!

For more information, please call 076-602435.

#BlueTree #Phuket #BlueTreePhuket
#Entertainmenthub #ThrillandChill #DayandNight
#Russia #Artist #Rapper #Hiphop #Concert #Event

Matichon Group Organizing Major Symposium on Thailand’s New Economic Episode

By

Unix Dev

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23 January 2023, 14:06

Matichon Group is organizing a major symposium on Jan. 25, 2023 entitled “Thailand: New Episode.”

High-profile speakers will explore opportunities and challenges facing the Thai economy. The event, running from 8.30am to 11.55am, will take place at Pullman King Power Hotel (Rangnam), but seats are available only for invited guests.

Former PM Office Minister Kobsak Pootrakool, who is currently the Director and Senior Executive Vice President of Bangkok Bank, will talk about future opportunities for Thailand. This will be followed by Kriangkrai Tiannukul, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries. Kriangkrai will touch on the future outlook of the Thai economy and industries. Somphote Ahunai, billionaire and CEO of renewable energy firm Energy Absolute (EA) will discuss the new economic S-curve. Chansin Treenuchagorn, chief of Thai Airways’ Rehabilitation Plan, will give his thoughts on how Thailand can speed up its tourism industry and the prospect for the national carrier. Radio host Puwanart Kunapalin, the last speaker, will talk about the power of the new generation in driving Thailand forward. The event is moderated by Parinda Kumthumpinij.

The event will be covered live on Khaosod (Thai) Facebook page and will be summarized in English by Khaosod English’s Pravit Rojanaphruk.

Discover ‘Blue Tree Phuket’ a hidden gem offering you ‘Thrill & Chill, Day and Night” activities

By

Contributor

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23 January 2023, 13:00

With the slogan ‘Entertainment Hub, Thrill & Chill, Day & Night,’ Blue Tree Phuket is a hidden-gem destination where you can find fun activities, exciting moments, and challenging ventures. Being an entertainment hub means all-around fun all day and all night. The destination includes health and sport for those who love exercising to come and enjoy the space for free! Blue Tree Phuket also regularly hosts various Asian competitions like the Spartan APAC Championship, Pho3nix Kids Triathlon and I DID IT SERIES. Besides energetic activities, international cuisine is a must-try here as well. It’s truly an entertainment hub which combines fun things to do, health and sport, the savory world, safety, and an environmentally friendly concept in one place. Blue Tree Phuket is made for people of all ages.

“Blue Tree Phuket is an entertainment hub serving happiness and fun that you can’t get bored of,” says Mr. Sarot Lertpongworapun Director of Marketing of Blue Tree Phuket. “On our 224,000-square meter area, we have entertainment activities both day and night. Travelers with various lifestyles can find their favorites. Our offers align with the current traveling trend that focuses on finding new experiences. According to the surveys among Thai and foreign travelers*, the trends are similar. Most travelers would love to go to temples and make merit. They also admire cultural traveling. At the same time, Gen-Z travelers have fun in numerous activities, adventurous and challenging things, festivals, and concerts. Blue Tree Phuket can serve all these demands complemented by our environmental focus. This is why the staff at Blue Tree must learn and offer the best possible service.”

Blue Tree Phuket is divided into four main zones: Crystal Lagoon, Forest, Arena, and Lifestyle Village. The Lagoon zone utilizes the innovative technology of Crystal Lagoon® to maintain excellent water quality while reducing the use of chemicals, energy, and water. Highlights in this zone are exciting activities such as cliff jumping, zipline, paddleboarding, wakeboarding, underwater scooters, the longest superfly in Thailand, a high dive show, a synchronized swimming show, and a flyboard show from the world-renowned champion performers.

The Forest zone provides a large green space filled with fun activities, such as a mountain bike trail, a surf skate, and skateboard park, a campsite for children, an adventurous forest trail, and challenges for exercise. Next is our Arena zone, a space that can host parties, concerts, and other activities. The last one is the Lifestyle Village, where you can find retail shops and services for travelers visiting Blue Tree Phuket. Some of our offers include a gym, a yoga studio, a salon, clothing stores, and restaurants. Moreover, there is Kids Planet, a nursery offering childcare services all day. Your children will be taken care of by professional and knowledgeable staff. Children will get to do activities that suit their development and skills. Another highlight is the Blue Tree Beach Club, a new landmark located in the center of Blue Tree. Designed in a tropical style, the space is decorated with bamboo reflecting a tropical area. It has three floors in total. The first-floor functions as a beach club. The second floor is a restaurant, and the third floor is open to private events.

“Blue Tree Phuket also organizes weekly activities. You can enjoy our Picnic in the Park, Wansao (Saturday) Market, Havana Night, Wet n’ Wild, and Blue Tree Beach Club Sandtastic Friday Night. All these events are specially catered to bring joy and happiness to all guests coming to Blue Tree. Additionally, Blue Tree Phuket is a destination for sports lovers since there are activities and sports events all year round. Recently, the biggest padel tennis court in Southeast Asia was launched, and the court can host international competitions,” says Mr. Sarot.

Blue Tree Phuket is truly a new destination for fun experiences in Phuket since it offers exactly what the slogan says, “Entertainment Hub, Thrill & Chill, Day & Night.” Whether you are an adventure seeker, a sports lover, a party-goer, or a family-focused traveler, you shouldn’t miss this place! Come and have a marvelous time with all activities at “Blue Tree Phuket.”

For more information, call 076-602435.

#BlueTree #Phuket #BlueTreePhuket #FreeEntry

#Entertainmenthub #ThrillandChill #DayandNight

Opinion: Thai-Chinese and Debt of Gratitude

By

Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer

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22 January 2023, 12:00

A woman offers incense sticks to a shrine in Yaowarat, Bangkok on Jan. 21, 2023.

Every Chinese New Year, I am reminded of a personal story of the paternal side of my ancestors and how it shaped my conscience and a deep sense of debt of gratitude towards Thailand.

My paternal grandfather migrated from the southern Chinese island of Hainan when he was a teenager, never to return home. China was far from the superpower she is (again) today and many poor Chinese fled southeastern China to Southeast Asia to seek a better livelihood.

My grandfather landed in Thailand, married a Thai-Chinese, but he passed away when my father was still a teenager so I did not get a chance to meet him. Despite that, my father was able to succeed at school, (Saint Gabriel’s College, where I was also eventually educated), and then went on to study at both Chulalongkorn and Thammasat Universities at the same time. Thammasat back then was still an open university. When he eventually entered the foreign service, like many children of Chinese immigrants in Thailand, there was virtually no discrimination. He went on to excel, like many Thai-Chinese who populated influential and senior posts at various state agencies.

If we look at the political arena, many past Thai prime ministers are Thai-Chinese and occupied both sides of the political divide. Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra on one side, Chuan Leekpai, Abhisit Vejjajiva on the other side. There is also the late Banharn Silpa-archa and more. Over the decades, many presidents and rectors of top universities were also Thai-Chinese and so are a good number of political activists Thai-Chinese.

Although there was a period particularly under the rule of Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsongkram when the Chinese identity among Thai-Chinese was suppressed, the stories of Thai-Chinese here and how they got assimilated (and gone native) differ vastly from some of our neighbors in Southeast Asia.

Think about the continued discrimination faced by Malaysian-Chinese due to the Bumiputras policy, which was introduced since the 1970s and affects their educational and job prospects and the anti-Chinese riots in 1964 and 1969. In Indonesia, the riot, looting, arson, and raping in Jakarta’s Chinatown in 1998 (and two other cities) is something unthinkable in Thailand. An Indonesian-Chinese friend once told me when she applied for a job, she did not attach a mugshot photo of herself in the application because she fears that despite her localized Indonesian name and the fact that she was born Indonesian, she might be discriminated against in the hiring process simply because she is ethnic Chinese. In Japan, it is the ethnic Koreans, children of those forced by Japan’s Imperial Army to relocate during the war, who find it difficult to gain equal job opportunity. This means many lawless Yakuza gangs end up being populated by Japanese of Korean ancestry.

Here in Thailand, and in the capital of Bangkok in particular, Thai-Chinese can be seen everywhere. They have gone native so the majority of the younger generation cannot speak the local Chinese dialect fluently and if they speak Chinese at all, it is Mandarin Chinese that they now learn at school as a second or third language. Perhaps that is the price we paid.

It is the relative openness and welcoming attitude of Thai society that benefit the majority of the Thai-Chinese – to the point that I dare say their loyalty is first and foremost to Thailand and that they are more Thai and Chinese in their identity.

The debt of gratitude that I feel I owe to this land, to this society, is not quantifiable. I try to repay the debt of gratitude by doing what I can in my little way to try to make Thailand a better society – by making it more equitable, free, just, and democratic.

Not a few Thai-Chinese that I know are putting the benefit of Thai society above their personal interest but we will need more Thai-Chinese to join the struggle for a better Thailand. After all, this is our homeland and we owe this land a debt of gratitude to make it better.

MARRIOTT BONVOY PRESENTS EXTRAORDINARY TRAVEL EXPERIENCES TO CELEBRATE DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION ACROSS APAC IN 2023

By

Contributor

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20 January 2023, 16:17

Members can get up-close-and-personal with top players at the Australian Open, including Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador, Ash Barty, and celebrate pride at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and Gay Games Hong Kong

Singapore – Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International’s award-winning global travel programme and extraordinary portfolio of 30 hotel brands, presents a year-long line-up of incredible experiences to celebrate diversity, equity and inclusion across APAC. From championing Women in Sports at the Australian Open, to celebrating pride at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and Gay Games Hong Kong, Marriott Bonvoy members can pursue their passions and enjoy once-in-a lifetime experiences through the Marriott Bonvoy Moments.

“Travel has the transformative power to connect people – whoever they are and wherever they may come from. It opens up perspectives to the places we visit, the people we meet and the cultures we experience,” elaborated Julie Purser, Vice President, Marketing, Loyalty and Partnerships, Marriott International, Asia Pacific. “Marriott Bonvoy is proud to be collaborating with these cornerstone events that underscores our values of welcoming all. Through these curated collaborations, we also hope to rally travellers and empower advocates to celebrate diversity, equity and inclusion together with us.”

Get inspired by the best Woman in Sport

The Australian Open (AO), one of the most highly anticipated sporting events in the region, returns this January with an unmissable Summer of Tennis. For the second year running, Marriott Bonvoy partners with tennis champion and 2022 AO winner, Ash Barty, to spotlight the shared passion for inclusivity and women in leadership through a collection of incredible moments that fuel members’ joy for travel and change the way in which they see the world.

Members can get up-close to the action with coveted tickets to the Women’s Final in the Superbox and tennis clinics with Barty herself. Fans also gain exclusive access to premium viewing tickets across marquee matches in both Women’s and Men’s finals, meet-and-greets with Australian tennis legends and the opportunity to take photos with the Daphne Akhurst and Norman Brooks trophies.

Celebrate love at APAC’s grandest Pride events

This February, WorldPride will be coming to Sydney for the first time, combining with the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras for the largest Pride celebration in the world, with W Hotels, part of Marriott Bonvoy, as its exclusive hospitality partner. As a brand, W Hotels has always been a platform for individuals and communities, and this three-year collaboration underscores the brand’s legacy of being a voice for progressive ideals. Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of hotels across Sydney will be showcasing a range of exhilarating experiences to host guests and Marriott Bonvoy members through this global celebration of diversity and inclusion.

In addition, Pride Month in June will see celebrations in W Hotels across several destinations including W Bangkok and W Koh Samui.

The Gay Games – the world’s largest sports and cultural event open to all – makes its way to Asia for the first time ever, from 3 to 11 November 2023 in Hong Kong. Platinum partner, Marriott Bonvoy, presents a tailored “Feel Your Pride and Share Your Love” stay package to celebrate a week of diverse cultures, sports and inclusivity. Guests of the 13 participating hotels, including The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, The St. Regis Hong Kong and W Hong Kong, can create unforgettable memories with access to exclusive Pride-themed experiences, offers to discover the city, and a special welcome gift. Packages are now available for booking via the Marriott Bonvoy website here or mobile app.

Marriott Bonvoy Moments gives members the chance to use points earned from travel at nearly 8,200 hotels and everyday activities, such as cobrand credit card purchases, , to bid for the chance to take part in exclusive Marriott Bonvoy Moments experiences all over the globe. Members may redeem their points for either fixed-price experiences or use them to bid on packages through auctions

For more information on Marriott Bonvoy and its offerings in Asia Pacific, please visit https://marriottbonvoyasia.com/

#MarriottBonvoy

Train Station’s Opening in Bangkok Ushers in New Travel Era

By

Associated Press

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20 January 2023, 13:30

A Tuk Tuk drives past the massive Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. Photo: Sakchai Lalit / AP

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand ushered in a new age of train travel on Thursday as Southeast Asia’s biggest railway station officially began operations. The government says the huge, modern development on the edge of central Bangkok will bolster the country’s position as a regional hub and boost its economy.

It’s officially called Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, a name bestowed by the king. But to most people it’s more likely to be known simply as Bang Sue Grand Station, after the part of Bangkok where it’s located.

The cost of the new terminal, including the station, elevated train tracks and a connecting station for Bangkok’s mass transit system, is around $1 billion, according to Takun Indarachome, director of traffic operations for the State Railway of Thailand.

Almost all of Thailand’s long-distance domestic and international rail services will pass through the new terminal, on which work began 10 years ago. The first train out of the new station was bound for Sungai Kolok, on Thailand’s southern border with Malaysia.

Many Thais, however, are lamenting the shunting aside of the previous terminal, Hua Lamphong Station on the edge of Bangkok’s Chinatown in the middle of the capital. The classic station, with its high-ceilinged waiting room, has hosted generations of travelers, ranging from rural workers looking for jobs in the city to backpacking tourists headed south to chill at seaside resorts.

All is not lost for the nostalgic, however. Several lines — running locally and to the east — will still wend their way to the older, more central station. For the time being at least, 62 trains will use it daily.

The construction of the new terminal coincided with major projects expanding rail networks in Thailand and other countries in Southeast Asia, largely spurred by China’s Belt and Road infrastructure initiative and its high-speed rail technology.

Passengers will encounter a four-story station covering almost 30 hectares (3.2 million square feet). Many Bangkokians are already familiar with the premises because its cavernous halls were used last year as the main venue for the government’s free COVID-19 vaccination program.

Trains will come and go on 24 tracks at 12 platforms, with the station able to manage up to 40 trains at the same time, according to the government. At peak times it can handle up to 600,000 passengers per day, more than 10 times the capacity of Hua Lamphong station, it says.

In Bang Sue’s ultra-modern control room, banks of panels and screens oversee operations and make sure that everything is running smoothly. Video from more than 120 security cameras is monitored using artificial intelligence. In public areas, smart robots are on hand to assist puzzled passengers, and smart wheelchairs can carry handicapped people without human help.

“Today is the first day after they moved the service from Hua Lamphong and lots of people did not know that yet, so the place looks empty,” said Theerawat Peangda, who was waiting to catch a train south for a holiday break. “But I think this station is OK, very nice and convenient.”

Hua Lamphong, in contrast, looks more to the past than the future. To walk through the neo-Renaissance portal of the station, designed by Italian architects and opened in 1916, is to step back in time to a simpler era. For a while, it even appeared that it would be relegated to become a museum.

“I don’t want them to move the grand station. I’d rather it stayed here,” Prathuang Ruengsamut, 68, said earlier this week as he waited for a train at Hua Lamphong. “They just need to renovate this place a little bit and it’ll be fine.”

Such deep affection for the old station may well have saved it. When plans were mooted to tear it down, there was a public outcry, and the authorities backtracked.

“Had they closed it and turned it into a museum it would have become lifeless. But if we let people keep using it, it’s much better,” said Thanong Thooptian, 61, who regularly takes trains from Hua Lamphong.

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Story: Tassanee Vejpongsa and Jerry Harmer.

Defense Leaders Meet Amid Dissent Over Tanks for Ukraine

By

Associated Press

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20 January 2023, 13:00

FILE - Soldiers of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment stand next to a Stryker combat vehicle in Vilseck, Germany, Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022. Photo: Michael Probst / AP File

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AP) — Defense leaders are gathering at Ramstein Air Base in Germany Friday to hammer out future military aid to Ukraine, amid ongoing dissent over who will provide the battle tanks that Ukrainian leaders say they desperately need to recapture territory from Russia.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are expected to discuss the latest massive package of aid the U.S. is sending — which totals $2.5 billion and includes Stryker armored vehicles for the first time.

But broader hesitation over sending tanks to Ukraine has roiled the coalition, as Germany facees mounting pressure to supply Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv, or at least clear the way for others — such as Poland — to deliver German-made Leopards from their own stock.

The U.S. has also declined, at least so far, to provide M1 Abrams tanks, citing the extensive and complex maintenance and logistical challenges with the high-tech vehicle. The U.S. believes it would be more productive to send Leopards since many allies have them and Ukrainian troops would only have to get trained on that one, versus needing far more training on the more difficult Abrams.

The United Kingdom announced last week that it will send Challenger 2 tanks, and has said it’s a natural progression of military aid to Ukraine.

At a Pentagon briefing Thursday, spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said the Leopard and Challenger aren’t comparable to the Abrams because the Abrams is much harder to maintain and wouldn’t be a good fit.

“It’s more of a sustainment issue. I mean, this is a tank that requires jet fuel, whereas the Leopard and the Challenger, it’s a different engine.” The Leopard and Challenger are “a little bit easier to maintain,” Singh said. “They can maneuver across large portions of territory before they need to refuel. The maintenance and the high cost that it would take to maintain an Abrams — it just doesn’t make sense to provide that to the Ukrainians at this moment.”

The package of aid being sent by the U.S. includes eight Avenger air defense systems, 350 Humvees, 53 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, more than 100,000 rounds of artillery ammunition and rockets, and missiles for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System. It was announced Thursday by the Pentagon.

Germany’s new defense minister, Boris Pistorius, who took office just an hour before he met with Austin on Thursday, is among those likely to attend the Ramstein meeting. Referring to the tanks, he told ARD television he was “pretty sure we will get a decision on this in the coming days, but I can’t yet tell you today how it will look.”

It wasn’t clear if the tank issue came up during his initial session with Austin. During brief comments before the meeting began, Austin said, “we’ll renew our united commitment to support Ukraine’s self-defense for the long haul,” but didn’t mention any specific new equipment.

Nearly 11 months into the Russian invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed frustration about not obtaining enough weaponry from the Western allies.

Speaking by video link on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Zelenskyy offered a veiled critique of major supporters such as Germany and the U.S. that have hesitated about sending tanks.

Bemoaning a “lack of specific weaponry,” he said, through an interpreter, “There are times where we shouldn’t hesitate or we shouldn’t compare when someone says, ‘I will give tanks if someone else will also share his tanks.’”

German officials have conveyed their hesitancy to allow allies to give Leopards unless the U.S. also sends Ukraine the Abrams, according to a U.S. official who wasn’t authorized to comment and spoke on condition of anonymity. But there have been no signs that the U.S. decision to not send Abrams is shifting.

Milley told reporters traveling with him this week that complex new U.S. training of Ukrainian troops, combined with an array of new weapons, artillery, armored vehicles heading to Ukraine, will be key to helping the country’s forces take back territory that has been captured by Russia in the nearly 11-month-old war.

The goal, he said, is to deliver needed weapons and equipment to Ukraine so the newly trained forces will be able to use it “sometime before the spring rains show up. That would be ideal.”

Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl also said this week that a new phase of the war is shaping up as Russia gets more deeply entrenched, and that Ukraine will need mechanized infantry to break through those lines.

The influx of new weapons, tanks and armored carriers comes as Ukraine faces intense combat in eastern Ukraine around the city of Bakhmut and the nearby salt mining town of Soledar. The battles are expected to intensify in the spring.

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Story: Lolita C. Baldor and Tara Copp. Copp reported from Washington.

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