Thailand’s plan to deploy Chinese police patrol sparks outcry

A group of Chinese tourists walking through the entrance at the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, on Sept 10, 2023. Chinese arrivals into Thailand have totalled 2.8 million so far this year, official data show. — AFP

BANGKOK (Bloomberg): Thailand is mulling a plan to station Chinese police personnel at some of its popular tourist destinations to lift the confidence of travelers from the Asian neighbor, but the move has sparked a controversy with some critics raising concerns over sovereignty.

The co-operation with Chinese police was discussed by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, senior police and tourism officials on Sunday as a way to draw more Chinese visitors, who used to make up the largest number of foreign arrivals before the pandemic.