Australian Embassy Updates

Daily Updates on COVID-19

Headlines summary as of 20 June 2022

KEY ISSUES AT A GLANCE

  • Anti-government protests continue in Bangkok. Anti-government protesters gathered at Bangkok’s Victory Monument at around 5:15pm today (Sunday), before marching to the Din Daeng area. Crowd control police are also on the move, to maintain order in the area, and are asking the protesters to stay on the footpaths. The Din Daeng intersection was closed to traffic for 10 minutes, but has been reopened as the situation is peaceful. Source: Thai PBS
  • Thailand Pass, Covid insurance to end July1. Thailand Pass registration and compulsory Covid-19 insurance will be lifted for all people arriving in Thailand from July 1, a senior government spokesman said on Friday. Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said these decisions were made at a meeting of the CCSA on Friday. Arrivals will need only show their vaccination certificates or Covid-19 test results if asked via random inspection. Without such proof, arrivals will be given random, professional antigen tests at permanent border entry points. Random testing would continue until the government lifts all state-of-emergency measures to deal with Covid-19. The Thailand Pass registration system will remain in place but be used only for travellers to report suspected symptoms of dangerous and other communicable diseases, as determined by the Public Health Ministry, Dr Taweesilp said. Foreign nationals will not have to be insured for Covid-19, and thermal scanning will end at border checkpoints, he said. Source: Bangkok Post
  • Food crisis to hit nations in second half. Thai exporters will benefit, says FTI. A global food shortage is expected to intensify during the third and fourth quarters this year, with the scarcity likely to benefit Thai food exporters, says the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). Many countries are expected to endure food shortages because nations such as India, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo and Egypt have restricted their exports, including wheat, said Kriengkrai Thiennukul, chairman of the FTI. Stockpiling of food appears to be unavoidable, following lower crop yields as a result of a shortage of fertiliser and animal feed amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Source: Bangkok Post

ANNOUNCEMENTS

  • No significant announcements

AUSTRALIA IN THE NEWS

  • Canberra eyes a strategic reboot. New Albanese government seen as moderating Australia’s China policy while improving ties with ASEAN countries. The outspoken Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad once dared Australia to decide “whether it’s an Asian country or a Western country.” By all indications, the new Labor government in Canberra seems to want it both ways. Newly elected Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has underscored that while his government welcomes de-escalation of bilateral tensions with Beijing, it remains committed to expanding strategic ties with fellow Quadrilateral Security Dialogue partners. Attending the Quad Summit in Tokyo last month, just days after winning the parliamentary elections, the new Australian leader vowed to pursue foreign policy focused on “friendships and long-time alliances.” Scott Morrison’s administration, however, largely dispensed with his predecessor’s Asia policy in favour of fortifying Australia’s defence ties with not only the Quad, but also the AUKUS (Australia-UK-US) alliance in the Indo-Pacific region – which received mixed, and often even negative, reception in Southeast Asia. Matters took a more troubling turn when the conservative government in Australia adopted regressive policies on climate change, along with an increasingly confrontational policy toward China. All of a sudden, Australia once again resembled “America’s deputy sheriff” in the eyes of many Southeast Asian states. The Albanese government, however, seems committed to recalibrating Australia’s foreign policy. Source: Asia Times
  • Aboriginal fag to fly on famed bridge. SYDNEY: The Aboriginal flag will fly permanently on the Sydney Harbour Bridge as part of a ‘healing process’ and reconciliation efforts with Australia’s indigenous community, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said yesterday. The distinctive black, red and yellow flag will fly alongside the Australian flag and New South Wales state flag at the top of the landmark bridge. The Aboriginal flag, recognised as an official flag of Australia since 1995 is flown from government buildings and embraced by sporting clubs and athletes of Aboriginal heritage. Source: Bangkok Post print edition
  • Top Aussie envoy visits Solomon Islands. SYDNEY, June 17 (Reuters) – Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong visited a riot-hit community in the Solomon Islands on Friday to highlight the capabilities of Australian police, amid regional concern over the Pacific nation’s security pact with China. Wong held “constructive” talks with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, she said, during the first visit to Honiara by an official of Australia’s new government. Her visit spotlighted education and health aid and the efforts of Australian police to restore stability by working with disadvantaged youth following deadly riots in November. “Australia’s view does remain that the Pacific family should be responsible for our security,” Wong said on Friday. Source: Bangkok Post print edition

COVID

  • 1, 784 new cases and 18 deaths Source: Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health
  • Thailand Pass, Covid insurance to end July1. Thailand Pass registration and compulsory Covid-19 insurance will be lifted for all people arriving in Thailand from July 1, a senior government spokesman said on Friday. Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said these decisions were made at a meeting of the CCSA on Friday. Arrivals will need only show their vaccination certificates or Covid-19 test results if asked via random inspection. Without such proof, arrivals will be given random, professional antigen tests at permanent border entry points. Random testing would continue until the government lifts all state-of-emergency measures to deal with Covid-19. The Thailand Pass registration system will remain in place but be used only for travellers to report suspected symptoms of dangerous and other communicable diseases, as determined by the Public Health Ministry, Dr Taweesilp said. Foreign nationals will not have to be insured for Covid-19, and thermal scanning will end at border checkpoints, he said. Source: Bangkok Post
  • US approves Covid vaccines for youngest kids. US health authorities on Saturday cleared the Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines for children aged five and younger, in a move President Joe Biden greeted as a “monumental step” in the fight against the virus. The United States thus became the first country to approve use of the so-called mRNA vaccines for children as young as six months. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had on Friday authorized their emergency use for young children — who previously had to be at least five to receive the vaccine. Source: Thai PBS
  • Thai gov to remove mask mandates for outdoors, scrap Thailand Pass in July. According to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Friday, Thailand Pass will be cancelled, face masks will be “recommended” for closed and crowded areas, and entertainment venues will be able to operate normally starting on July 1. Face masks will be “recommended” for closed and crowded areas only, said Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, the spokesman of the CCSA. Temperature checkpoints for buildings or stores will no longer be mandatory. Social distancing will only be a recommendation. Source: Thai Enquirer

POLITICS

  • Anti-government protests continue in Bangkok. Anti-government protesters gathered at Bangkok’s Victory Monument at around 5:15pm today (Sunday), before marching to the Din Daeng area. Crowd control police are also on the move, to maintain order in the area, and are asking the protesters to stay on the footpaths. The Din Daeng intersection was closed to traffic for 10 minutes, but has been reopened as the situation is peaceful. Source: Thai PBS
  • Governor visits Khlong Toei in first inspection tour of Bangkok’s 50 districts. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt launched his mobile meetings with district officials today (Sunday) and visited local people as part of his pro-active and people-centric approach to solving problems, with Khlong Toei district being the first on the inspection tour. The governor plans to visit at least one of Bangkok’s 50 districts every Sunday. He told the media today that he chose Sunday because most working people are at home, so he would be able to see them during his visit to their communities and listen to their problems and grievances, while not interrupting district officials while they work on normal days. Source: Thai PBS
  • Pheu Thai plan to censure Labour Minister ‘lawful’. The main opposition Pheu Thai Party has defended naming Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin on a list of cabinet ministers targeted for a no-confidence vote. Mr Suchart recently accused the party of submitting a no-confidence motion without the consent of MPs. He said that originally, his name was not among a list of cabinet ministers targeted for the censure debate. His name was added at the last minute without the knowledge of opposition MPs who supported the motion, he said, arguing the motion was therefore illegal. Currently, the opposition lists 10 names of targeted cabinet members. Those named include Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit, Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda, Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob

ECONOMICS

  • Food crisis to hit nations in second half. Thai exporters will benefit, says FTI. A global food shortage is expected to intensify during the third and fourth quarters this year, with the scarcity likely to benefit Thai food exporters, says the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). Many countries are expected to endure food shortages because nations such as India, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo and Egypt have restricted their exports, including wheat, said Kriengkrai Thiennukul, chairman of the FTI. Stockpiling of food appears to be unavoidable, following lower crop yields as a result of a shortage of fertiliser and animal feed amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Source: Bangkok Post
  • Importance of EVs touted by minister. Electric vehicles (EV) are expected to transform Thailand’s automotive industry in five years and are instrumental in driving Thailand to become an EV hub in Asia during that period, says Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow. “EVs will completely change the local manufacturing sector over the next five years, while helping to support Thailand to achieve its ambitious plans to reduce carbon dioxide emissions,” said Mr Supattanapong at an EV forum. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha declared at the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow that Thailand wants to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2065 as part of the country’s long-term ambition on climate action. Source: Bangkok Post
  • Firms cheer easing of tourism rules. End of Thailand Pass system and mask requirement in public elicits smiles. After more than two years of severe hardships brought about by Covid-19 outbreaks, tourism-related businesses are seeing a glimpse of hope after the government agreed on Friday to abandon the pre-registration process for foreign visitors and the requirement for face masks to be worn in public. Sanan Angubolkul, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said businesses are likely to breathe a sigh of relief as they can resume normal operations after the government announced the relaxations. The government’s decision to declare the whole country a “green zone”, allowing all business activities to resume, will speed up efforts to restore the Thai economy to the level before the pandemic, though soaring inflation remains a worry, said the Employers’ Confederation of Thai Trade and Industry (EconThai). Source: Bangkok Post

OTHER

For further information please see the embassy’s Facebook Page ‘Australian Embassy, Thailand’ or the Ambassador’s Twitter Page https://twitter.com/AusAmbBKK

Headlines summary as of 10 June 2022

KEY ISSUES AT A GLANCE

  • Banks are flushed with savings totalling 15.6 trillion Baht – Businesses holding onto cash to cope with volatility.  Kasikorn Research Centre revealed that accumulated savings in 18 banks across Thailand totalled 15.62 trillion Baht in April 2022, which is a 5 percent YoY increase.  Some 51 percent of the savings are from the businesses that are looking to increase their liquidity to brace for volatilities arising from rising energy price, the Russian-Ukraine war and the FED hiking up interests.  Banks are also seeing signs of improvement in their loan portfolio, with mortgage seeing the highest expansion.   CIMB Bank forecasted that there is currently up to 1 trillion Baht of excessive liquidity in the banking system.  Source:  Prachachat Turakij
  • Ministry set to ask for end to mask rule. The Ministry of Public Health will ask the Centre for Covid-19 Situation’s (CCSA) operations centre to drop the mask mandate in public places and lower the national Covid-19 alert to Level 2 next week. Kiattiphum Wongrajit, permanent secretary for public health, said if the operations centre agrees with the ministry’s recommendation, the final decision will rest with the CCSA’s executive board, which is chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. While no decision on the matter has been taken, Gen Prayut did not wear a face mask during media interviews on Thursday — instead, he spoke from a podium behind a plastic shield. Other ministers, meanwhile, had their masks on. Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the CCSA will also consider another proposal submitted by Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt to allow the capital’s residents to ditch face masks in public places and parks. Separately, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will start to roll out the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine soon. In an announcement on its Facebook page on Thursday, the BMA said the vaccines have arrived in Thailand, with priority given to those who have yet to receive any Covid-19 jab. Source: Bangkok Post
  • Pheu Thai outlines censure debate. Targets include PM, 9 cabinet ministers. The opposition will table a no-confidence motion against the government in parliament next week, with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and nine cabinet ministers targeted in the planned censure debate. Pheu Thai Party leader Cholnan Srikaew said the opposition will file the motion with the parliament president next Wednesday. Targeted in the motion along with the prime minister are cabinet ministers from the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), the Bhumjaithai Party and the Democrat Party. They will be censured for alleged mishandling of government administration and alleged violation of codes of ethics, Dr Cholnan said. Source: Bangkok Post, Thai PBS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

  • Foreign firms still keen on Thailand.  Foreign firms operating in Southeast Asia are demonstrating a high level of confidence as they look to expand their footprint in a market of some 640 million people, says HSBC.  It added that Thailand is the most popular choice for companies planning expansion into new Southeast Asian markets.   It was also the second market in the region behind Singapore to have the largest presence of foreign firms already operating (37 percent). Thailand is also considered a leader in ASEAN when it comes to technology, with particular strengths in biotech, edge technology, cybersecurity and digital payments.  Source:  Bangkok Post
  • Nationwide Air Quality Sensors to Support Proactive Solutions. BANGKOK, June 9 (TNA) – The Energy Ministry and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) activated the “Sensor for All” network of air quality sensors at about 1,200 locations nationwide to check air quality in real time and support proactive solutions to air pollution.EGAT governor Boonyanit Wongrukmit said EGAT already installed air quality sensors at 500 locations nationwide and also exchanged air quality data with the Pollution Control Department via the Air4Thai app and with Chiang Mai University through the Dustboy app. The “Sensor for All” networking created a pool of air quality data from about 1,200 locations throughout the country. The collaboration results in real-time air quality reports via the sensorforall.com website, the Sensor for All application and nationwide air quality monitors. General people can use the data to plan their everyday life and organizations can base their anti-dust solutions on the data. Source: Thai News Agency
  • Pheu Thai outlines censure debate. Targets include PM, 9 cabinet ministers. The opposition will table a no-confidence motion against the government in parliament next week, with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and nine cabinet ministers targeted in the planned censure debate. Pheu Thai Party leader Cholnan Srikaew said the opposition will file the motion with the parliament president next Wednesday. Targeted in the motion along with the prime minister are cabinet ministers from the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), the Bhumjaithai Party and the Democrat Party. They will be censured for alleged mishandling of government administration and alleged violation of codes of ethics, Dr Cholnan said. Source: Bangkok Post, Thai PBS

AUSTRALIA IN THE NEWS

  • Commentary: Quad leaders have a problem with China and North Korea’s relationship. When Quad leaders gathered earlier this year, North Korea’s missile launches were on their minds. But their main focus, while not explicitly named, is clearly China, says this academic. North Korea at least waited until United States President Joe Biden had left Asia before launching another volley of missiles to splash into the sea. American officials had braced for a potential show of force by Pyongyang as Biden toured the region in May for meetings culminating with the “Quad” nations – India, United States, Japan and Australia. Certainly, North Korea was on the minds of the gathered leaders – in a joint statement issued after their summit in Tokyo, the four members condemned Pyongyang’s “destabilising ballistic missile launches” and called on North Korea to engage in substantive dialogue for the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula in line with the United Nations Security Council resolutions. But the main focus of the Quad – while not explicitly named – is clearly China. The meeting in Tokyo saw much more ambitious steps to counter the twin security and economic challenges that China presents, including condemning the “militarisation of disputed features” in the region, launching a new initiative to enhance maritime awareness to help countries resist coercive actions, and pledging an economic framework to span 13 countries in the Indo-Pacific. Source: Channel News Asia
  • Australian PM says cabinet to address KFC ‘cabbage-gate’. SYDNEY: Australia’s prime minister joked he would huddle with top officials Thursday to discuss the soaring cost of lettuce and local KFCs’ decision to replace the verdant leaf with a cabbage mix on their Zinger Burgers. Dubbing the fast-food chain’s decision “crazy”, centre-left leader Anthony Albanese quipped the situation had become a national “crisis”. Lettuce prices have soared by as much as 300% in Australian cities thanks to recent flooding and high global fuel prices. Source: Bangkok Post

COVID

  • 2, 836 new cases and 24 deaths Source: Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health
  • NHSO to cut back on Covid test support starting July 1. The National Health Security Office (NHSO) will not cover the public costs of coronavirus tests performed by medical service centres uninsured by universal health coverage (UHC), starting July 1 when Covid-19 is declared endemic. This was agreed upon during a meeting of the NHSO board of directors on Monday, said Dr Jadet Thammathat-aree, secretary-general of the NHSO. From July 1, people who take Covid tests at such medical centres will need to pay for it themselves. Dr Jadet said during the pandemic, medical centres under the UHC had been overworked and there was a great need for other medical service centres not under the UHC to provide assistance. Medical staff had been working tirelessly with Covid-19 screening and campaigning for health protection to avoid the coronavirus, he said. Therefore, the NHSO had drawn medical centres that are not under the UHC for active case finding in order to ease the workload. Source: Bangkok Post
  • Ministry set to ask for end to mask rule. The Ministry of Public Health will ask the Centre for Covid-19 Situation’s (CCSA) operations centre to drop the mask mandate in public places and lower the national Covid-19 alert to Level 2 next week. Kiattiphum Wongrajit, permanent secretary for public health, said if the operations centre agrees with the ministry’s recommendation, the final decision will rest with the CCSA’s executive board, which is chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. While no decision on the matter has been taken, Gen Prayut did not wear a face mask during media interviews on Thursday — instead, he spoke from a podium behind a plastic shield. Other ministers, meanwhile, had their masks on. Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the CCSA will also consider another proposal submitted by Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt to allow the capital’s residents to ditch face masks in public places and parks. Separately, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will start to roll out the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine soon. In an announcement on its Facebook page on Thursday, the BMA said the vaccines have arrived in Thailand, with priority given to those who have yet to receive any Covid-19 jab. Source: Bangkok Post
  • Covid-19 close to becoming endemic in Thailand, says virologist. Thailand should be able to declare Covid-19 endemic soon as most citizens have developed an immunity to the virus either from vaccines or infection, expert virologist Dr Yong Poovorawan said on Friday. He pointed out that most Covid-19 cases officially reported nowadays are people who test positive via RT-PCR tests. He believes most patients who have not been included in the daily case report are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. Thailand recorded 2,836 infections and 24 deaths on Friday. Source: The Nation

POLITICS

  • Pheu Thai outlines censure debate. Targets include PM, 9 cabinet ministers. The opposition will table a no-confidence motion against the government in parliament next week, with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and nine cabinet ministers targeted in the planned censure debate. Pheu Thai Party leader Cholnan Srikaew said the opposition will file the motion with the parliament president next Wednesday. Targeted in the motion along with the prime minister are cabinet ministers from the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), the Bhumjaithai Party and the Democrat Party. They will be censured for alleged mishandling of government administration and alleged violation of codes of ethics, Dr Cholnan said. Source: Bangkok Post, Thai PBS
  • Navy holds talks with Chinese company over submarine engines. The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) on Thursday began talks with a Chinese submarine builder to find a solution over the manufacturer’s failure to obtain German-made diesel engines as stipulated in the purchase contract. The Navy will stick to its demand for MTU396 engines for its Yuan Class S26T submarine worth THB13.5 billion, while representatives from China Shipbuilding and Offshore International Company (CSOC) are expected to propose an alternative with comparable capacity, an informed source said. Source: The Nation
  • Drugs, border security among key issues discussed at Thai-Lao meeting in Bangkok. The meeting was held at the Conrad Bangkok Hotel with Laotian Deputy Prime Minister Chansamone Chanyalath representing the neighbouring government. Before the GBC meeting started, the two deputy prime ministers discussed measures for cooperation after the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, which is expected soon, according to Thai officials who attended the meeting. The two also discussed security issues, which were joint problems along the border of the two neighbouring countries, including the issues of drug trafficking, trafficking in persons, illegal immigrants and across-the-border call-centre gangs. Source: The Nation

ECONOMICS

  • Inflation hits sentiment in Thai industry.  The Thailand Industry Sentiment Index (TISI) fell to a 7-month low of 84.3 points in May amid economic uncertainties ranging from rising inflation to geopolitical conflicts, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).  The top concern for businesses is the higher energy price. Source:  Bangkok Post 
  • Oil refineries face state price cap.  Energy authorities are considering imposing a price cap on oil sold by Thai refineries to better control energy inflation, with ongoing measures to tackle the problem scheduled to end this month.  The Energy Ministry formed a working panel to study how to narrow what is known as the oil refinery margin, which is part of the retail oil price that drivers pay at petrol stations, and is a cost added to the crude oil price during the refining process.  Source:  Bangkok Post
  • Tourism to get B100m ‘booster shot’.  Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has drawn up a budget of more than 100 million Baht to revive the battered travel sector and will propose it to CESA for approval. The budget will be allocated to the “Tourism Booster Shot”, such as increasing airline seat capacity to 50 percent of the pre-pandemic level.  Source:  Bangkok Post
  • Kingdom decriminalises ganja.  More than 150,000 people registered to cultivate cannabis with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday as hemp and cannabis were officially delisted from the government’s Category 5 narcotics list yesterday.  Public Health Minister Anutrin Thursday chaired the first meeting of a committee tasked with integrating the new policy at Government House.  He also established 6 sub-committees to regulate the use of cannabis and hemp, as well as to oversee communication messages to the public.  Source:  Bangkok Post, Krungthep Turakij printed newspaper

OTHER

  • Leave the guilt at home. New restaurant Guilty serves fine five-star fare. Guilty is Bangkok’s latest addition to the five-star dining scene. The 55-seater, which celebrates its official grand-opening today, takes over a courtyard-facing space at the breathtaking Parichart Court of Anantara Siam hotel. Steering the kitchen is Venezuelan chef de cuisine Carlos Rodriquez. A familiar face in the Bangkok restaurant scene since 2015, Rodriquez has worked at a number of the city’s high-profile restaurants including Gaggan, Meatlicious, Mejico and Park Hyatt Bangkok’s Penthouse Bar + Grill. His menu here showcases contemporary Latin American cuisine with worldly twist. Guests can find in the 60-item collection dishes such as snacks, salads, tacos, ceviche, meat and seafood courses as well as sushi and sashimi. All are generously portioned and ideal for sharing.  Source: Bangkok Post

For further information please see the embassy’s Facebook Page ‘Australian Embassy, Thailand’ or the Ambassador’s Twitter Page https://twitter.com/AusAmbBKK

Headlines summary as of 6 June 2022

KEY ISSUES AT A GLANCE

  • Budget bill passes first House test. But govt making it through the upcoming censure debate could well be a different story. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha can breathe a sigh of relief for now after the government’s 2023 budget bill cleared its first reading in parliament, with some opposition MPs voting in support of the bill. However, many observers do not believe this guarantees the government will secure similar support in the upcoming no-confidence debate. The 2023 budget bill passed its first reading in the early hours of yesterday morning with 278 votes in favour and 194 against from opposition MPs. Officially the opposition has 208 MPs within its ranks, while the government can command 230-240 votes. All coalition MPs voted for the bill including those in the faction under Capt Thamanat Prompow of the Settakij Thai Party, whose support for Gen Prayut had been in doubt. Seven opposition MPs from the Pheu Thai Party and four from the Move Forward Party also voted in favour of the bill after a first reading that ran from Thursday night until around 2am on Friday morning. Source: Bangkok Post
  • Chadchart backs 2am closing time. Regarding the possibility of easing the face mask-wearing mandate, Mr Chadchart said the CCSA will make a decision, but the City Hall will recommend such a move considering that the Covid-19 situation in Bangkok is starting to improve. Bangkok residents should be allowed to remove face masks in public areas and open spaces, though such an idea must be endorsed by local health and medical bodies, he said. Removal of masks will also be raised with the CCSA. A source at City Hall said the Bangkok communicable disease committee will meet tomorrow to discuss measures to be presented to the CCSA. They include removing the face mask in public areas. Source: Bangkok Post, Thai News Agency
  • Businesses urge government to establish ‘soft power’’.  Businesses, academic and the private sector alike suggest the government set up the ‘Thailand team’ to move forth Thailand’s soft power under the banner 5F (Food, Fashion, Festival, Film and Fighting) as coined by the Ministry of Culture.  They pointed to the need for all the relevant stakeholders to cooperate in marketing Thailand’s soft power in the global arena rather than each group working in silo as is the case now.  They also suggested the government invest in marketing research to enable Thailand to better serve global demands, as well as to incorporate soft power into the national economic development plan to lay down concrete plans.  Source:  Krungthep Turakij printed newspaper

ANNOUNCEMENTS

  • Senior US defence officials to visit Thailand. Senior US defence officials will visit Thailand next week to strengthen ties with its ally in the Indo-Pacific. ADM John Aquilino, Indo-Pacific Commander, is reportedly scheduled to stopover in Bangkok from June 7th to 9th, before he attends the Shangri-La Dialogue over next weekend in Singapore. His last visit here was in October last year. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin will then also visit Bangkok, after he attends the dialogue in Singapore on June 12th and 13th, to strengthen bilateral security ties further. During a courtesy call in Washington DC, ahead of the special ASEAN-US summit last month, due to time constraints, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Austin were unable to have a substantive conversation. Subsequently, Austin said he will visit Bangkok after the defence forum in Singapore, according to informed sources. Source: Thai PBS
  • Heavy rain forecast this week as monsoon intensifies in Thailand. The Thai Meteorological Department has warned of flash flooding and runoffs from Tuesday to Saturday (June 7-11), when isolated thunderstorms are forecast to sweep across the country. The severe weather warning was triggered by a monsoon trough lying across upper Laos and upper Vietnam and also strengthening of the southwest monsoon over the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf. The conditions will bring more rain to upper Thailand this week, with isolated heavy rain in the North, Northeast, Bangkok and Central region, the East and the southwest coast. Source: The Nation
  • Boom time for Thai cannabis.  Cannabis is scheduled to be removed from the Category 5 narcotics list on Thursday, allowing people to grow an unlimited number of plants at home.  JSP Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (Thailand), a medicine and nutritional supplements distributor said the move should kick-start the development of cannabis in a range of industries, from medicine to cosmetics and food, marking a “new era” for the plant in Thailand.  Source:  Bangkok Post

AUSTRALIA IN THE NEWS

  • Australia says Indonesia trip shows importance of bilateral relationship. SYDNEY: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Sunday his trip to Indonesia just over two weeks after he was elected showed the importance his new government places on ties between the two countries as it works to focus more on Southeast Asia. Albanese was due to leave on Sunday for Indonesia, and is expected to visit the capital Jakarta, where he will hold talks with President Joko Widodo, as well as Makassar, in South Sulawesi. The Australian delegation will also include Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Trade Minister Don Farrell. “This early visit with a very high-level delegation from Australia indicates to our Indonesian friends the importance we place on that relationship,” Albanese told reporters in Perth. The trip comes as Australia’s new Labor government, which ended almost a decade of conservative rule in a May 21 election, puts greater focus on relations with Southeast Asia and climate change, an issue crucial to its Pacific neighbours, as it navigates ties with a more assertive China. Source: Bangkok Post

COVID

  • Chadchart flags changes to face mask rules. Regarding the possibility of easing the face mask-wearing mandate, Mr Chadchart said the CCSA will make a decision, but the City Hall will recommend such a move considering that the Covid-19 situation in Bangkok is starting to improve. Bangkok residents should be allowed to remove face masks in public areas and open spaces, though such an idea must be endorsed by local health and medical bodies, he said. Removal of masks will also be raised with the CCSA. A source at City Hall said the Bangkok communicable disease committee will meet tomorrow to discuss measures to be presented to the CCSA. They include removing the face mask in public areas. Source: Bangkok Post, Thai News AgencyThai PBS

POLITICS

  • Small fry may turn coat at censure meet. Rebel group weighs voting against PM. A Group of 16 MPs from small parties is undecided whether to vote against the government in the next censure debate. This is despite their being set to join the opposition in the grilling over the controversial bidding for a contract to build the main pipeline for the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), said Pichet Sathirachawal, the group’s leader. Mr Pichet said the group, which claims to have 16 MPs under its wing, will decide how to vote in the censure motion expected later this month or early next. Some of the group’s MPs have previously supported the government. Mr Pichet, who is also an MP for the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), said the group planned to zero in on the EEC transmission pipeline project worth 25 billion baht. Mr Pichet alleged the project may be fraught with irregularity. If the government keeps pushing ahead with the project, the group would sever its ties with the government, he added. Source: Bangkok Post
  • People split over Prayut’s chance of serving out his 4-year term: poll. Less than half the population are certain Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha will be able to complete his full four-year term as prime minister, according to the result of an opinion survey by the National Institute of Development Administration, or Nida Poll. The poll was conducted between May 30-June 1 by telephone interviews with 1,326 people aged 18 and over of various levels of education, occupations and incomes throughout the country to compile their opinions. Asked whether Gen Prayut would be able to complete his four-year term ending in March 2023, less than half, or 46.23%, said “yes, definitely”; 28.81% believed he would not be able to do so; and 24.96% were not sure. Those who thought Gen Prayut would not be able to serve out his term or were still uncertain (713 of the 1,326 people polled) were then asked in what circumstances they thought Gen Prayut would leave his post prematurely. Of that number, 45.58% thought he would dissolve the House of Representatives; 32.68% believed the Constitutional Court rules would rule against him over when his tenure began when he seized power in the coup or when he was elected; and 21.74% believed he would simply resign as prime minister. Source: Bangkok Post
  • Budget bill passes first House test. But govt making it through the upcoming censure debate could well be a different story. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha can breathe a sigh of relief for now after the government’s 2023 budget bill cleared its first reading in parliament, with some opposition MPs voting in support of the bill. However, many observers do not believe this guarantees the government will secure similar support in the upcoming no-confidence debate. The 2023 budget bill passed its first reading in the early hours of yesterday morning with 278 votes in favour and 194 against from opposition MPs. Officially the opposition has 208 MPs within its ranks, while the government can command 230-240 votes. All coalition MPs voted for the bill including those in the faction under Capt Thamanat Prompow of the Settakij Thai Party, whose support for Gen Prayut had been in doubt. Seven opposition MPs from the Pheu Thai Party and four from the Move Forward Party also voted in favour of the bill after a first reading that ran from Thursday night until around 2am on Friday morning. Source: Bangkok Post

ECONOMICS

  • Renewable energy booms in line with BCG model; garnering 200 billion Baht of investment in 5 years.  Board of Investment revealed that Thai and foreign investors have applied for 1,290 projects with investment value of 200 billion Baht related to electricity-generation from renewable energy sources.  In Q1 2022, the momentum continues to be on the upswing with applications worth 8 billion Baht coming in, supported by the high price of fossil fuel as well as Thailand’s promotion of BCG as they key to restructuring the Thai economy.  Source:  Thansettakij
  • NIA unveils novel strategy.  The National Innovation Agency (NIA) is gearing up efforts to build Thailand’s position as an innovation nation through a 7-pronged strategic plan, aiming to raise the country’s ranking in the Global Innovation Index to the top 30 by 2030.  Thailand eyes becoming an innovative country in 3 areas: finance, as an aviation hub, and through the creation of innovation districts that can draw international investment.  Bangkok also has the potential to become an ASEAN powerhouse for investment in innovation.  Source:  Bangkok Post
  • Culture Ministry said creative economy could generate 1.45 trillion Baht of revenue.  Culture Ministry said Thailand’s soft power has generated 1.45 trillion Baht for the Thai economy in 2021.  By year 2027, Culture Ministry aims to increase culture-related services and goods to constitute 15 percent of the nation’s GDP, given that promoting Thailand’s soft power is part of the 20-year national strategy.  Source:  Krungthep Turakij printed newspaper

OTHER

For further information please see the embassy’s Facebook Page ‘Australian Embassy, Thailand’ or the Ambassador’s Twitter Page https://twitter.com/AusAmbBKK

Headlines summary as of 1 June 2022

KEY ISSUES AT A GLANCE

  • Opposition attacks budget bill prepared by ‘incompetent, visionless government’. The opposition wasted no time today (Tuesday), the first day of the three-day debate in the Lower House, in attacking the annual budget bill, which they describe as incorrectly proportioned and prepared by “incompetent, visionless” government. Taking to the floor to grill the government over the 3.18 trillion baht budget bill for the 2023 fiscal year, after its presentation by the prime minister, Chonlanan said that the opposition cannot accept the bill because there is no guarantee that it will address all the pressing problems confronted by the country caused by the government’s incompetence. He said that the budget bill had been prepared without taking into consideration the changing situation and alleged that there are indications of corruption and nepotism, citing, for instance, the budgets for both the Department of Highways and the Department of Rural Roads, which have increased substantially to over 130 billion baht, but were partially concealed in the budget as a logistics development plan. Source: Thai PBS, Bangkok PostThai Enquirer
  • Hiking of rice price by Thailand, Vietnam ‘impossible’ – export body.  A pact between Thailand and Vietnam to raise rice prices would be “impossible”, a top industry official said in another sign of opposition to a government-proposed plan for a rice cartel amid a global food crisis. The Thai government said on Friday it planned with Vietnam to create a pact between the world’s second- and third-largest rice exporters to boost their bargaining power and help mitigate rising production costs.  Vietnam has yet to confirm such a plan was being discussed.  The Rice Exporters Association of Thailand criticised the move as ‘poorly thought out’.  Source:  Reuters.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

  • Tourism hit by safety, security woes. Thailand’s ranking in the Travel and Tourism Development Index 2021 dropped to 36th from 35th place, with safety and security plunging to the lower end of the table, while neighbouring countries such as Indonesia and Vietnam posted improvements. Out of 117 countries, Thailand fell one spot with a score of 4.3 out of 7 points. Indonesia secured second place in Southeast Asia, jumping from 44th to 32nd in the index conducted by the World Economic Forum. Vietnam moved up from 60th to 52nd. Singapore kept the top spot in the region, though its ranking was unchanged. The index is based on scores from 1-7, where 1 is the worst performance. The two key categories where Thailand declined were “Enabling Environment” and “Travel and Tourism Policy and Enabling Conditions”. For Enabling Environment, safety and security of the country was ranked 92nd with a score of 4.3, lagging behind the Asean average of 5.4. Thailand’s health and hygiene ranking was 74th, with a score of 4.3. For Travel and Tourism Policy and Enabling Conditions, prioritisation of travel and tourism dropped to 88th with a score of 3.7 points, the lowest in the region, which averaged 4.4. Categories that posted an improved performance were “Infrastructure” and “Travel and Tourism Sustainability”, while “Travel and Tourism Demand Drivers” remained unchanged. Source: Bangkok Post
  • Cabinet heats up as Don-Jurin debate on CPTPP with different perspectives.  At the cabinet’s meeting, Foreign Minister Don urged the government to consider joining the negotiation process for CPTPP as he fears Thailand may be missing valuable opportunities, as was the case with the Thai-EU FTA which Thailand had sat on for 14 years.  DPM and Commerce Minister Jurin responded by saying that the government is unable to make a decision on this because of strong objections from stakeholders, and that actions should be taken after Thailand has thoroughly studied the approaches of other countries.  To this end, the government spokesperson Rachada reiterated that Thailand will not participate in CPTPP negotiations until it is able to ascertain the benefits of CPTPP to the country.  The cabinet also approved of the Partnership and Cooperation Framework Agreement (PCA), which sets the long-term direction Thailand’s trade and economic policies with the EU.  Source:  Thansettakij, Krungthep Turakij

AUSTRALIA IN THE NEWS

  • Australia PM Albanese appoints record number of women to diverse CabinetAustralia’s new federal ministry was sworn into office on Wednesday (Jun 1), with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appointing a record number of women to a diverse Cabinet team that includes religious minorities and Indigenous Aboriginals. A total of 10 women were included in Albanese’s 23-member Cabinet, surpassing the seven in the previous Liberal-National coalition government led by Scott Morrison. Industry Minister Ed Husic and Youth Minister Anne Aly became Australia’s first Muslim federal ministers at a ceremony in the national capital, Canberra, while Linda Burney, wearing a kangaroo-skin cloak, became the first Aboriginal woman to hold the Indigenous Australians ministry. Albanese formed an interim ministry, that included four other key members, two days after the May 21 election so he could attend a Quad group meeting in Tokyo, attended by US But President Joe Biden and the leaders of Japan and India. Source: Channel News Asia

COVID

  • With the changes to reporting now including ATK cases (BUT excluding ATK tests in Bangkok) the numbers are now conflicting. 
  • DODC Ministry of Public Health reports the daily number as 8, 784 daily cases, however all the major news sites are reporting non ATK inclusive numbers of 4, 563. 
  • This news summary will report both numbers for the time being.
  • The DODC Ministry Of Public Health website has now been made temporarily unavailable so there may still be further changes ahead… watch this space 
  • 4, 563 new cases Source: Thai News reports, Bangkok Post, Thai PBS
  • 8, 784 new cases Source: Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health
  • 28 deaths
  • 5, 125 discharged from hospital
  • 39, 272 currently in hospital

POLITICS

  • Chadchart officially becomes Bangkok’s new Governor. Chadchart Sittipunt officially became the next Bangkok Governor today (Tuesday) at 3pm, after the Election Commission (EC) finally certified the results of the Bangkok gubernatorial election, which the independent candidate won by a landslide on May 22. The announcement came after a delay, due to a complaint filed with the EC by political activist Srisuwan Janya. He had questioned whether Chadchart, a 56-year-old former transport minister, had a hidden agenda when he used a vinyl fabric in the making of his campaign posters and whether the fabric has been recycled into bags and aprons. Srisuwan also accused Chadchart of “insulting the bureaucratic system”. The delay in the certification of Chadchart’s win drew much ire on social media, pushing the Thai hashtag asking what is wrong with the EC to a top trending hashtag since yesterday. The hashtag itself has attracted over 165,000 tweets so far. Meanwhile, the head of the Pheu Thai party, Chonlanan Srikaew, claimed that the EC failing to certify Chadchart’s win will damage people’s trust in the democracy. He also added that Chadchart’s landslide victory indicates that people want to escape the current crises. Source: Thai PBS
  • New Bangkok Governor Ready to Unveil His Team. BANGKOK, June 1 (TNA) – Newly-elected Bangkok governor Chadchart Sitthipunt will come to his office this afternoon and will officially unveil his administration team. After the Election Commission certified the election result of the Bangkok gubernatorial election and confirmed his status as the 17th Bangkok governor yesterday, Chadchart will today receive the verification document from the EC before entering his office at the City Hall near the Giant Swing at the auspicious time, 1.19 p.m. He will unveil his administration team and will later go to the City Hall 2 in Din Daeng district. Source: Thai News Agency
  • Opposition attacks budget bill prepared by ‘incompetent, visionless government’. The opposition wasted no time today (Tuesday), the first day of the three-day debate in the Lower House, in attacking the annual budget bill, which they describe as incorrectly proportioned and prepared by “incompetent, visionless” government. Taking to the floor to grill the government over the 3.18 trillion baht budget bill for the 2023 fiscal year, after its presentation by the prime minister, Chonlanan said that the opposition cannot accept the bill because there is no guarantee that it will address all the pressing problems confronted by the country caused by the government’s incompetence. He said that the budget bill had been prepared without taking into consideration the changing situation and alleged that there are indications of corruption and nepotism, citing, for instance, the budgets for both the Department of Highways and the Department of Rural Roads, which have increased substantially to over 130 billion baht, but were partially concealed in the budget as a logistics development plan. Source: Thai PBS, Bangkok PostThai Enquirer
  • Thai government urged to reduce defence budget to fund welfare projects. A lecturer in economics at Thammasat University is urging the government to scale down its defence spending and increase budgets to improve the livelihoods of the poor and pensioners and to stimulate the grass-root economy, in order to restore public trust and confidence, as the debate on the 3.18 trillion baht budget bill for the 2023 fiscal year begins today (Tuesday) in the Lower House. Dr. Theepakorn Jithitikulchai, of the Faculty of Economics, said that the government still has the conventional mindset when preparing the national budget, which gives priority to permanent expenditure and defence spending, with scant attention paid to issues such as welfare for the vulnerable, students and the poor as well as investment. The public welfare budget, he said, accounts for just 2.6% of gross domestic product (GDP) compared to at least 8% in developed countries, while the investment budget amounts to just 15% of all public spending. Source: Thai PBS

ECONOMICS

  • Group seeks foreign funding for EVs.  The Thailand Automotive Institute (TAI) vows to draw more foreign investment in electric vehicles (EVs) through a plan to build a 400 million Baht test track for battery EVs, along with its 1.7-billion-Baht project on the second-phase development of an automotive test track at a facility in Chachoengsao province.  The cabinet agreed to push ahead with the second-phase development, which is listed among projects in the 2023 budget bill now being considered in parliament.  Source:  Bangkok Post
  • EV interrupted by tax ambiguity; thousands of cars stuck at Customs.  The EV market has hit a hiccup as automakers are holding back on delivering the EVs to customers.  Automakers are waiting for the government to formally enforce the EV tax incentive scheme, which would reduce the retail price of EVs significantly, particularly the 3 EV automakers (Great Wall Motors, MG and Toyota) that have signed on to the scheme with Finance Ministry since March 2022.  MG said more than 400 of its cars are now stored in a warehouse in Thailand and will be delivered to customers only when the tax incentive scheme is enforced.  MG said customers have made reservations for thousands of its cars which it is not able to deliver for 6 months since the end of 2021.  Source:  Krungthep Turakij printed newspaper
  • What is PDPA, Thailand’s new data law?  Enforcement of the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) finally starts today, but what that means is a hazy area.  The government is currently working on a subordinate regulation to spare SMEs from being obliged to comply with the PDPA’s practices on the recording of processing activities due to its high cost.  Source:  Bangkok Post, Krungthep Turakij

OTHER

  • Dip pita at Hummus Boutique’s new Phrom Phong location. Chickpea dip fans alarmed by the disappearance of a go-to hummus near BTS Thong Lo may relax as it will reopen at a new location not too far away. Best known for delicious falafel dishes and its titular product, Hummus Boutique will reopen next week across from Samitivej Hospital on Soi Sukhumvit 49, the restaurant told Coconuts today. No reason was given for the relocation or what day exactly it will reopen. The all-Mediterranean, all-vegetarian venture, which opened near BTS Thong Lo in August 2018, became popular for its chickpea dips, toppings, and styles. Its specialties include Lucid Dreams (avocado, rocket, egg, kalamata olives, almonds and balsamic over a bowl of creamy hummus) and Falafel Party, which combines crispy falafel with hummus and a chopped pickle salad. Source: Coconuts Bangkok

For further information please see the embassy’s Facebook Page ‘Australian Embassy, Thailand’ or the Ambassador’s Twitter Page https://twitter.com/AusAmbBKK

Headlines summary as of 23 MAY 2022

KEY ISSUES AT A GLANCE

  • Chinese lockdowns hitting Thai producers.  China’s lockdown of 6 cities and major deep-sea ports have an adverse effect on the Thai manufacturing sector and its supply chains as they account for 72.6 percent of China’s overall exports to Thailand, said the NESDC.  There is a sharp slowdown in the export of Chinese products to Thailand such as chemical products, electrical appliance components, rubber, paper, fertiliser and wood.  Those raw materials are key to Thai manufacturing supply chains, especially electrical appliances, computers components, machinery, plastic and chemicals.   NESDC warns the problems likely to be prolonged.  Source:  Bangkok Post
  • Political polarisation ‘starting to ease’. Independent candidate Chadchart Sittipunt’s victory in Sunday’s Bangkok governor election has shown that political polarisation is starting to ease, with voters backing candidates from opposite political camps, a renowned academic said. Mr Chadchart received 1,386,215 votes, ahead of Suchatvee Suwansawat of the Democrat Party, who received 240,884 votes, according to the unofficial results of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). Phichai Ratnatilaka Na Bhuket, a political science lecturer at the National Institute of Development Administration [Nida], told the Bangkok Post that Bangkok voters have a broader political outlook and most of them are politically liberal and do not cling on to the political camps they had previously supported. “Therefore, the governor poll saw voters cross the floor to support opposite camps,” Mr Phichai said. Source: Bangkok Post
  • Australia’s new PM heads to Tokyo with climate message. CANBERRA – Australia’s new prime minister Anthony Albanese took office Monday, hours before flying to a Tokyo summit with a “message to the world” that his country is ready to engage on climate change. The 59-year-old Labor Party leader told reporters he wants to “bring people with us on the journey of change” before he took the oath of office in a brief, publicly televised ceremony at Government House in Canberra. In a hurried post-election schedule, he was flying out a few hours later to join a summit Tuesday with the US, Japanese and Indian leaders, known as the Quad. Source: Bangkok Post, Matichon

ANNOUNCEMENTS

  • Emergency operations centre set up to monitor Monkeypox situation in Thailand. Thailand’s Disease Control Department has set up an emergency operations centre to keep a close watch on the Monkeypox situation, which has now spread to 15 countries. The department’s director-general, Dr. Opart Karnkawinpong, said yesterday (Sunday) that, although Monkeypox has not been detected in Thailand yet, there is a risk of the disease spreading from people arriving from countries where Monkeypox infections, a rare disease caused by the Monkeypox virus, have been detected, as Thailand has eased travel restrictions to allow more overseas arrivals. He said that the emergency operations centre will monitor the Monkeypox situation globally, will assess the potential situation in Thailand and will formulate both medium and long-term precautionary measures. Dr. Opart said that more than 100 cases have been detected in 15 countries, which include the UK, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, France, Germany, Sweden, the US, Canada, Australia, Israel, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Greece. Source: Thai PBS
  • APEC ended without a joint statement but remains on track to pursue FTAAP by 2040.  DPM and Commerce Minister Jurin revealed that the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting (MRT) which ran from 21-22 May 2022 ended without a joint statement due to differences over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.  Nevertheless, Minister Jurin confirms APEC MRT meeting was a success despite 5 economies (US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan) walking out of the meeting when a Russian Minister was giving a speech on 21 May.  All economies agreed to develop the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) by 2040 and had also discussed 7 important topics related to living with the COVID-19 world.  These include such as supply chains and logistics issues, MSMEs and SMEs promotion and integrating BCG Model into the practices of MSMEs and SMEs.  Source:  Prachachart Turakij, Bangkok Post  Matichon
  • Russia eager to see trade top $10bn with Thailand.  Russia is adamant about its push for bilateral trade with Thailand reaching US$10 billion (330 billion baht) a year after showing strong interest in investing in the kingdom, says DPM and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit.   Minister Jurin was speaking to the media on Saturday after attending talks with Russia’s Minister of Economic Development on the sidelines of APEC MRT meeting in Bangkok.  Source:  Bangkok Post

AUSTRALIA IN THE NEWS

  • Australia’s new PM heads to Tokyo with climate message. CANBERRA – Australia’s new prime minister Anthony Albanese took office Monday, hours before flying to a Tokyo summit with a “message to the world” that his country is ready to engage on climate change. The 59-year-old Labor Party leader told reporters he wants to “bring people with us on the journey of change” before he took the oath of office in a brief, publicly televised ceremony at Government House in Canberra. In a hurried post-election schedule, he was flying out a few hours later to join a summit Tuesday with the US, Japanese and Indian leaders, known as the Quad. Source: Bangkok Post, Matichon
  • The Quad at a crossroads. When the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue was first conceived as a strategic coalition of the four leading democracies in the Indo-Pacific, many doubted it would amount to much. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi mocked it as a “headline-grabbing idea” that would dissipate “like the sea foam in the Pacific or Indian Ocean”. But continued Chinese expansionism, combined with the determination of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe to build broad resistance to it, has produced an increasingly consolidated group, with real potential to bolster regional security. The question is whether it will deliver. One thing is certain: all four Quad members — Australia, India, Japan, and the United States — are essential to realise the vision of a “free and open Indo-Pacific”. Source: Bangkok Post
  • Australia’s election: Out the “Bulldozer”, in the “Builder”. May 22, 2022: In Australia, time has come for someone who appears more compromising regarding international relations, boasts greater moral characteristics than his opponent and seems more serious about climate change. Anthony Albanese beat Scott Morrison in Australia’s election despite the latter’s self-described “Bulldozer” status and the incumbent government’s impressive war on COVID-19. The “Builder” apparently took advantage of the outgoing leader’s flawed integrity and other personal problems to end nine years of conservative rule. Even the conservatives’ attacks on Albanese regarding his attitude toward China could not prevent his victory. After the pandemic, during which Australian states were practically cut off from each other and citizens divided by strict lockdowns, Albanese made an all-too-familiar vow to recreate unity. Source: Thai PBS

COVID

  • Anutin backtracks on July 1 endemic goal. Covid-19 will not be declared as an endemic disease on July 1, the health minister said on Friday, despite earlier suggestions that it would be. Senior members of the government have been telling the public over the past two months that the government is planning to declare Covid as an endemic disease in July without providing a timeline or specific criteria. Those claims were refuted by the health minister. “No one said that it would be declared on July 1,” Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters at government house. Anutin said the current outbreak with the number of severe cases of around 1,000 patients and the declining number of daily Covid deaths are supporting the move to declare the disease as endemic. Source: Thai Enquirer
  • What Covid measures will be eased on June 1 in Thailand? The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has announced changes to Covid-19 prevention measures effective from June 1. The Yellow Zone (highest surveillance) will cover 46 provinces, the Green Zone (low surveillance) 14 provinces and Blue Zone (pilot tourism) 17 provinces. Entertainment venues in the Blue and Green zones can serve alcohol until midnight. However, alcohol promotions and sharing drinks are still banned while staff must wear face masks. Venue operators need permission from the provincial communicable disease committee before reopening. Staff must be screened for symptoms and take a rapid antigen test every seven days. Customers must have a vaccination certificate and follow Covid-19 controls. Thai travellers no longer need to register for Thailand Pass from June 1, while government officials and academics are allowed to travel abroad. The state of emergency has been extended to July 31 to maintain disease controls and ensure smooth transition to an endemic situation. Source: The Nation. Disease controls eased on June 1:
    • Thailand Pass scrapped for Thais.
    • Foreign travellers to receive TP QR code immediately.
    • Rezoning of provinces.
    • State of Emergency extended to July 31.
    • Government officials can travel abroad (pending cabinet approval).
    • Road map to declare endemic.

POLITICS

  • Political polarisation ‘starting to ease’. Independent candidate Chadchart Sittipunt’s victory in Sunday’s Bangkok governor election has shown that political polarisation is starting to ease, with voters backing candidates from opposite political camps, a renowned academic said. Mr Chadchart received 1,386,215 votes, ahead of Suchatvee Suwansawat of the Democrat Party, who received 240,884 votes, according to the unofficial results of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). Phichai Ratnatilaka Na Bhuket, a political science lecturer at the National Institute of Development Administration [Nida], told the Bangkok Post that Bangkok voters have a broader political outlook and most of them are politically liberal and do not cling on to the political camps they had previously supported. “Therefore, the governor poll saw voters cross the floor to support opposite camps,” Mr Phichai said. Source: Bangkok Post
  • Staggering victory that requires careful reading. Chatchard Sittipunt’s stunning landslide may have hidden scrambled messages voters in the capital delivered on Sunday in the Bangkok gubernatorial election, but arguably the real nightmare for the shaken powers-that-be was in the outcome of the city assembly votes. He won competing as an independent, leaving the question of “what if?”. How many votes represented the Pheu Thai Party’s power base? How many of the other votes did he earn for himself through a reputation as a hard-working professional with technical abilities? How many votes were cast by those satisfied that he had, seemingly at least, distanced himself from a highly-controversial figure, or Thaksin Shinawatra to be exact? How many votes were pro-Thaksin ones? Former Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang was snubbed, losing to even his ex-deputy Sakoltee Phattiyakul. But if votes for the two Prayut appointees were combined, the number must have worried the second and third places. Is it possible that Aswin and Sakoltee took votes off each other and thus narrowly lost to Suchatvee Suwansawas and Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, who both must have enjoyed solid “loyal” bases? Source: Thai PBS
  • Five takeaways from the Bangkok elections. Bangkok held its first local elections since 2013, with voters casting their ballots for Bangkok governor and the Bangkok Metropolitan Council. Read full article for the five takeaways from the results. Source: Thai Enquirer

ECONOMICS

  • Baht on a tightrope.  Industry leaders have urged the government to carefully manage the Baht to keep its value at a rate that will benefit both importers and exporters.  The Baht had depreciated to its lowest value in 5 years, by 3.4 percent since the start of 2022 to be valued at 34.62 per US Dollar as of May 9.  Its depreciation is a boon for the export and tourism sectors, but could affect other sectors that rely on key raw material imports.  Source:  Bangkok Post
  • The State Railway Authority of Thailand (SRA) ready to hand over land for hail-speed rail developers on 24 July.  The State Railway Authority of Thailand said it will hand over various pieces of land in Chonburi province to the developers of the high-speed rail linking the 3 airport on 24 July.  The SRA has successfully negotiated for the inhabitants to vacate the land and is demolishing all the infrastructure on it.  The land high-speed rail is an important aspect of the EEC and the handover is a good indication that the EEC projects will go ahead as planned.  Source:  Krungthep Turakij printed newspaper

OTHER

  • Craft beer goes wild: Bangkok’s Taproom up in Khao Yai through July. Add another stop to that weekend mountain getaway: refreshing brews. Taproom recently forayed into the lush greenery of Khao Yai National Park with a craft beer bar called Taproom Vacation, where it’s packed 20 taps and dozens of cans and bottles in rustic splendor. On tap, find Beerlao draft (THB200) and Denmark’s To Ol (THB300), currently ranked Europe’s No. 2 craft beer and ninth overall worldwide. A must-try, however, has to be Muay Thai, a craft beer bar brewed in Vietnam by the Smiling Mad Dog guys. Available on tap are an IPA and Witbier — both THB300. Food is what you’d expect from a beer bar: fried chicken wings (THB300) and smoky BBQ ribs (THB500). We are horny for the Punk IPA-batter fried calamari (THB300) and grilled mixed sausages served with pickled cucumber (THB450). The Taproom pop-up is located on Midwinter Farm, a farm-to-table restaurant and outdoor space on Thanaratch Road in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Pak Chong district. It’s open 5pm until midnight, Friday through Sunday. The location will operate until July 31. In Bangkok, Taproom has branches at The Commons Saladaeng and Smiling Coffee Steak in the Lat Phrao area. Source: Coconuts Bangkok

For further information please see the embassy’s Facebook Page ‘Australian Embassy, Thailand’ or the Ambassador’s Twitter Page https://twitter.com/AusAmbBKK

Headlines summary as of 14 March 2022

News

Newly confirmed casesTotal CasesDeath tollHospitalised/ intensive care patients
22,130Domestic +22,103Abroad+273,136,649( since 2020)                                      69225,889
Total vaccination1st dose vaccine recipients(28 Jan – 12 March )2nd dose vaccine recipients(28 Jan – 12 March)3rd dose vaccine recipients(28 Jan – 12 March )
125,589,061  (+218,260  )54,386,322(+87,257 yesterday) 78.2 %49,984,694(+19,565 yesterday) 71.9 %21,716,208(+ 117,509yesterday) 31.2%

  Sources : Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) and Department of Control 

Political news

  • Opposition organized the seminar yesterday entitled ‘the Opposition Leader Meets the People‘  that questioned PM Prayut’s 8-years tenure as allowed by the constitution at Amari Watergate hotel ;
  • Pheu Thai and opposition leader,Chonlanan Srikaew cited the PM tenure is due on August 8 this year and urge him to resign before August for his own dignity.
  • Move Forward Party also  address that PM Prayut’s prolonged stay will lead the opposition to seek an interpretation from the charter court.
  • In this event,  Pheu Thai Party also addressed  the party  is confident of having support of 30 MPs from small coalition parties. These parties including Setthakit Thai (Thai Economic) Party are the key of to decide the government’s fate in  next censure debate under Section 151 of the Constitution.
  • Pheu Thai party leader also hinted to the media that Paethongtan Shinawatra, the youngest daughter of an exile former PM Thaksin’s Shinawatra is possible to be one  of the party’s PM candidates, adding it depends on support from the general public ThaiPost
  • To appease the smaller parties, the PM  sets to hold a dinner party with key members of the smaller coalition parties at 18:00 hrs on March 17 at the Ratchapruek Club.This includes leaders from  Thai Forest Conservation Party,  Thai Rak Tham party and Thai Local Power Party.  Thai Rak Tham will discuss with the PM on the bill to improve pensions for the elderly, which requires the prime minister’s approval before it can go before parliament for deliberation. Bangkokpost
  • Bangkok governor, Aswin Kwanmuang, who turned up this position from the appointment of 2014 coup makers’ order ( NCPO) will compete in the Bangkok governor race that will be organized in mid of May  NationTV

Economic News

Akara Mine

  • On 11 March, villagers from Pichit, Phetchaboon and Phitsnulok provinces totalling 100 convened at the city hall in Phichit province.  They submitted a petition to support the reopening of Akara mine for the many economic benefits it generates for local communities.  They claimed that opposers of the mine’s reopening who came out to protest a few days earlier have done so with ulterior motives.  They pointed out that one of the protestors wanted to operate his own gold mine and is seeking a mining exploration license from the government, and as such did not want Akara mine to resume operation.  Sources: Post Today    TNN Thailand INN News Poojadkarn online
  • The Primary Industries and Mines Department (PIMD), Ministry of Industry has issued a press release in response to queries raised by a human rights group on Akara mines’ operation and its impacts on the environment, health, lives and occupations of local communities.  The group had previously handed a petition to the opposition party, seeking their assistance in calling for the government to revoke Akara mine’s mining licenses until a comprehensive EHIA is conducted and the studies concluded.  Sources:  Siam Rath Post Today

Others

  • In February, Ministry of Commerce (MoC) had granted 44 foreign investors who brought in some 5.781 billion Baht with licenses to operate businesses in Thailand under the Foreign Business Act.  Most were investments in the S-Curve industries, such as Broad Band System Products and Internet of Things.  Of the 44 investors, five are investors in the EEC zone, with investment value of 2.285 billion Baht, equivalent to 39 percent of total investment value.  This proves that EEC remains a popular investment destination for foreigners.  For the EEC, the top investors are from Japan and Singapore, mainly investing in maintenance and repair of machinery.  Sources:   Thansettakij    Prachachart Turakij  Naew Na
  • Customs Department is working with the Board of Investment on preferential tariff measures for the import of Electric Vehicle (EVs) components, which are expected to be finalised by the end of this year. 

This follows on from the BOI’s announcement on incentives promote investments in Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV).  Sources:  Prachachart Turakij Poojarkarn Online

  • A Japanese and a Chinese car manufacturer plan to invest in manufacturing battery-powered pickups in Thailand later this year, according to an anonymous Finance Ministry source.  The government’s recent announcement of tax incentives and subsidies to promote investments in EVs had garnered their interests.  The new excise tax structure for EVs is expected to be enforced within March.  Source:  Bangkok Post
  • Ministry of Commerce suggested that Thai exporters adopt BCG principle to their operations as the  WTO and super powers such as the US, EU and China are gearing up to implement environment-related trade barriers.  Source:  Krungthep Turakij newspaper, 14 March 2022
  • Betong airport in Yala province officially opens today, raising hope it will revitalise tourism and the economy in the country’s southernmost district.  Source:  Bangkok Post

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Thailand’s Personal Data Protection Act B.E. 2562 (2019) (“PDPA”)

As the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) also applies to personal data collected prior to the PDPA’s entry into force, please be informed that AustCham Thailand will automatically keep your contact details including email address, name and last name, and company details, on our mailing list.

Your data was received by AustCham Thailand as a result from you either registering or attending an event, contacting our office or subscribing to regular updates via the website. However, if you would like to stop receiving emails AustCham Thailand and revoke your consent for AustCham to keep and use your data to contact you for chamber events and updates, please scroll down to the end of this email and click “Unsubscribe from this list”. Your personal data will be shortly deleted once the opt-out notice request is received.

Please note that your data is kept in AustCham’s CRM system, please see here for AustCham’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. AustCham uses a management software system from Wild Apricot, and emails are distributed through MailChimp.

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