Thailand withdraws plan for joint patrols with China after public backlash

Following public outcry, Thailand withdrew its plans on Tuesday to conduct joint patrols with Chinese police in well-known tourist locations.

In an effort to foster confidence among visitors—including Chinese nationals—tourism officials on Sunday proposed the idea of having Chinese and Thai police patrol popular locations.

However, the plan caused a stir on the internet, prompting criticism that it violated national sovereignty and a rebuke from the head of the nation’s police force.

“We will not have joint patrols, but there are many other ways to build confidence for tourists in Thailand,” Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, the minister of tourism, said to reporters on Tuesday.

“The Thai police force is already adequate and are working hard to restore confidence,” Sudawan stated.

Following a shooting spree at a posh mall in Bangkok last month that claimed the lives of two people, including a Chinese national, Thai authorities moved quickly to increase security.

Thailand’s tourism sector needs to regain trust, particularly from Chinese tourists.

They made up 11 million of the 39.9 million foreign tourists who arrived in Thailand in 2019—a record number—but their return following the COVID-19 pandemic has been sluggish, leading the government to waive the requirement for Chinese nationals to have a visa in September.

Thailand has received 23.2 million foreign visitors so far this year.

(With agency inputs)