Wooing Chinese tourists, Thai leader Paetongtarn says she has 'Chinese blood in her'

In this photo released by Thailand's Government Spokesman Office, Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, right, attends a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, China, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. - Thailand's Government Spokesman Office via AP

BEIJING/BANGKOK (Reuters): Thailand's prime minister, seeking to allay security concerns among Chinese tourists visiting Thailand, said she had "Chinese blood in her" and that she had personally looked into security protocols in place to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens.

Security in Thailand has become a trending topic of conversation among Chinese nationals, by far the largest group of foreign tourists to Thailand, since a minor Chinese actor was rescued from a scam centre in Myanmar after being abducted in Thailand last month.