The Nation Thailand (2025)

17/08/2025

On August 17 2025, the Ratchamanu Task Force under the Naresuan Force conducted its fifth training programme for operators of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) equipped for tactical bomb-dropping missions. The course, known as the Combat Drone Operator Training Programme, aims to enhance the capabilities of soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division and the Naresuan Force in adapting to rapidly evolving threats along Thailand’s borders.

The training underscores the military’s efforts to modernise its border security operations and safeguard Thailand’s sovereignty and national interests.

A message delivered during the exercise reminded soldiers of their duty:

"We do not fight because we hate the enemy before us, but because we love and cherish what lies behind us — our land and the Thai people."

Read more: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40054136

17/08/2025

Royal Thai Army spokesman Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree on Sunday accused the chief of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) of distorting information in an attempt to discredit the Thai army and deny Cambodia’s use of landmines.
Winthai said CMAC director-general Heng Ratana selectively used photos provided by the RTA to claim that Cambodian troops had not deployed PMN-2 anti-personnel landmines against Thai soldiers.
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17/08/2025

Rear Admiral Surasan Kongsiri, spokesperson for the Ad Hoc Centre for the Thailand–Cambodia Border Situation, rejected distorted claims circulating online that Thai troops had crossed into Cambodian territory and obstructed local residents.

The allegation, made in a video posted by an individual identified as Michael B. Alfaro, was later removed from public access, reflecting what the spokesperson described as “dishonourable intent.”

The centre clarified the facts as follows:

1. Credibility of the accuser

Checks confirmed that Michael B. Alfaro is not a recognised White House correspondent in the United States, nor is he affiliated with any official agency or accredited media outlet. The company he founded was only established this year and raises several credibility concerns. His content should therefore not be regarded as verified information under international journalistic standards but merely as personal opinion without supporting evidence.

2. Distortion of facts

The use of conclusive language directly accusing Thailand constitutes a breach of professional reporting principles and risks misleading international audiences. The centre views this as deliberate dissemination of disinformation, which is unacceptable.

3. Thailand’s firm position

The Thai military strongly affirms that it has never encroached on foreign territory or violated the sovereignty of neighbouring states. All operations are conducted in strict compliance with international law, with utmost caution, and in full respect of human rights. Thailand values good neighbourly relations with Cambodia but will not tolerate falsehoods or distortions that undermine national dignity and security.

4. Appeal to media and the international community

The Ad Hoc Centre for the Thailand–Cambodia Border Situation urges the media and global community to carefully assess the credibility of sources and rely on information from accountable institutions, in order to prevent the spread of misleading content that could unnecessarily escalate tensions.

Surasan stressed that Thailand remains committed to the universal principle of peaceful coexistence but will not allow disinformation, distortions, or provocations to erode the nation’s integrity. Should such falsehoods be persistently disseminated in ways that threaten national security, Thailand will take strict legal measures and pursue international mechanisms to the fullest extent.

Read more:https://www.nationthailand.com/news/40054134

17/08/2025

Royal Thai Army spokesman Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree on Sunday alleged that Cambodia’s Defence Ministry had tacitly admitted to using landmines against Thailand through remarks made by its spokeswoman.
Winthai was referring to a statement on Saturday by Cambodian Defence Ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata, who said Cambodia would support Thailand’s operations to clear landmines along the border only after the ceasefire had been fully enforced without violations.
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17/08/2025

The story of a samurai who rose to power in the Ayutthaya Kingdom and the enduring memory of the Japanese community he once led lasts until today
In the 17th century, Ayutthaya was a thriving cosmopolitan capital. Merchants and adventurers from China, Persia, Europe, and Japan settled along the Chao Phraya River, each contributing to the kingdom’s wealth and power.
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17/08/2025

The Royal Thai Army (RTA) will lead the ASEAN Interim Observation Team (IOT) to visit the Thai-Cambodian border from Monday to Wednesday. The mission aims to monitor alleged breaches of international law and ceasefire conditions by Cambodian troops, government spokesman Jirayu Houngsub said on Sunday.
Jirayu noted that the visits follow two successful trips organised earlier by the Thai government for international governments and organisations. On Saturday, ASEAN envoys and representatives from countries that ratified the Ottawa Convention visited Si Sa Ket province.
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17/08/2025

The US State Department announced on Saturday that it is suspending the issuance of visitor visas for people from Gaza while it carries out what it described as a “full and thorough review.” The move has drawn sharp criticism from pro-Palestinian organisations, which denounced it as unjust and harmful.

Officials acknowledged that a limited number of medical-humanitarian visas had been approved in recent days but did not provide specific figures. Data on the department’s website shows that in 2025, Washington has issued over 3,800 B1/B2 visas—permits allowing entry for medical treatment in the US—to holders of Palestinian Authority travel documents, including 640 in May. The figures cover residents of both the West Bank and Gaza, but no breakdown was provided.

The suspension followed claims by Laura Loomer, a far-right activist and ally of former president Donald Trump, who alleged on social media that Palestinian “refugees” had entered the US earlier this month. Her remarks prompted concern among some Republicans: Representative Chip Roy of Texas said he would seek clarification, while Florida Representative Randy Fine labelled it a “national security risk.”

Civil rights and humanitarian groups condemned the decision. The Council on American-Islamic Relations described it as another act of “intentional cruelty” by the Trump administration. The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund warned the halt would prevent sick and wounded children from Gaza from accessing critical medical treatment in the US, calling the impact “devastating and irreversible” to its mission of more than 30 years.

Gaza remains in crisis after the conflict triggered by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage, according to Israeli figures. Israel’s subsequent military campaign has killed over 61,000 Palestinians, local health authorities say.

The US has not signalled willingness to take in Palestinians displaced by the fighting. Reuters sources report that Israel and South Sudan are in discussions over a possible resettlement plan.

Read more:https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/news/world/40054132

17/08/2025

The National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) released the results of its survey on “Hope or no hope in political parties,” conducted between August 13–14, 2025.

The poll sampled 1,310 respondents aged 18 and above, representing various regions, education levels, occupations, and incomes nationwide.

The sample was drawn using probability-based multi-stage sampling from NIDA Poll’s master database, with data collected via telephone interviews. The margin of error was set at no more than 0.05 at a 97% confidence level.

On satisfaction with the performance of current constituency MPs, 32.29% of respondents said they were “not very satisfied,” 28.24% said “not satisfied at all,” 27.18% said “somewhat satisfied,” 11.60% said “very satisfied,” and 0.69% gave no answer.

When asked whether they would vote for their current constituency MP if an election were held today, 50.69% said “no,” 25.57% said they were “unsure,” and only 23.74% said “yes.”

Regarding confidence in political parties currently represented in parliament, both government and opposition, 41.91% said they had “no hope at all,” 34.19% said they were “somewhat hopeless,” 20.92% said they were “somewhat hopeful,” and only 2.98% said they had “a lot of hope.”

Finally, when asked about voting for the same party in the party-list system as in the 2023 election, 40.46% said they would not vote for the same party, 29.47% said they would, 26.95% were uncertain, and 3.12% said they had not voted in the previous election.

Read more:https://www.nationthailand.com/news/politics/40054130

17/08/2025

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr announced after a Cabinet meeting that he would order a 60-day suspension of rice imports, from September 1 to October 30, 2025, to ease the impact of falling paddy prices during the harvest season.

The move follows a proposal from Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, who recommended a temporary halt to rice imports.

The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) reported that the domestic rice market has been under pressure from cheap imported rice, forcing some traders to buy paddy from farmers at only 8–10 pesos per kilogram, well below the production cost of 12–14 pesos per kilogram. Farmers blamed the influx of cheap imports as the main reason for the depressed farmgate prices.

According to the Thailand's Office of Commercial Affairs in Manila, the suspension applies to regular milled rice and well-milled rice, while basmati and other specialty rice varieties will be exempted.

Industry stakeholders noted that reducing imports will increase reliance on domestic harvests, pushing farmgate paddy prices higher. However, retail rice prices are also expected to rise by about 1–2 pesos per kilogram.

Thai exporters hit by Philippine rice import suspension, Commerce Ministry eyes new markets

Arada Fuangtong, Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Commerce, said Thai rice exporters had reported that the Philippine government’s decision to suspend rice imports would affect exports.

Other rice-exporting countries would also face similar impacts, as pending orders might not be delivered before the September 1, 2025 deadline.

She added that Philippine rice importers were discussing the matter among themselves and planned to petition the relevant authorities to allow flexibility for shipments already contracted, or alternatively to request that the suspension be lifted.

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Trade is preparing measures to support Thai rice exports and secure new orders to absorb domestic output and generate income for farmers. These measures include expanding markets and strengthening trade relations to build confidence and boost Thai rice exports.

Key initiatives include accelerating government-to-government (G2G) rice sales agreements, such as the remaining 280,000 tonnes under the contract with China’s state-owned COFCO; promoting exports of white rice and parboiled rice to high-demand markets such as Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq; organising a trade mission to Japan from September 7–11, 2025; and hosting a delegation of Hong Kong rice importers in Thailand in November 2025.

In addition, Thailand is promoting and publicising the image of Thai rice at international trade fairs to boost opportunities and expand export channels. The Thailand Rice Convention (TRC) roadshow is also being organised, featuring seminars for rice farmers to update them on global market demand trends. The aim is to encourage farmers to produce rice varieties that align more closely with international demand, with the programme scheduled for August.

In 2024, Thailand exported rice to the Philippines worth US$333 million, a 58.69% increase from US$210.45 million in 2023. During the first half of 2025 (January–June), Thailand exported about 141,000 tonnes of rice to the Philippines, accounting for just 3.78% of the country’s total rice exports.

“We expect overall Thai rice exports this year to reach the target of 7.5 million tonnes,” Arada said.

Read more:https://www.nationthailand.com/news/asean/40054129

17/08/2025

The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) will announce on August 18, Thailand’s second-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) figures and provide an outlook for the economy in 2025. The briefing will be delivered by NESDC Secretary-General Danucha Pichayanan.

Thailand’s economy is expected to continue expanding in the second quarter, following 3.1% growth in the first quarter. The momentum is supported by strong exports, driven by manufacturers accelerating shipments to the United States ahead of Washington’s tariff hikes. In the first half of the year, Thai exports reached US$166.85 billion, an increase of 15%.

At its previous briefing, the NESDC revised down its 2025 GDP growth forecast from 2.3–3.3% (with a midpoint of 2.8%) to 1.3–2.3% (midpoint 1.8%), reflecting uncertainty over US trade measures.

For the upcoming revision, the agency may not adjust the forecast range but could narrow its assumptions, bringing the midpoint closer to 2%.

The adjustment aligns with similar downward revisions by other economic agencies, including the Bank of Thailand and the Fiscal Policy Office.

Meanwhile, clarity has emerged on the US reciprocal tariff rate for Thai exports, which has been set at 19%. Although slightly higher than the NESDC’s expectation of 18%, the rate is broadly in line with those imposed on regional competitors, easing some pressure on the Thai economy.

At the same time, export figures for the first half of the year have exceeded earlier projections by economic agencies.

Previously, economic agencies monitoring Thailand’s performance and producing forecasts have gradually revised up their GDP projections for 2025 as follows:

Bank of Thailand (BOT): The central bank recently raised its GDP forecast to 2.3%, up from its April projection of around 2%. It also warned that if trade negotiations with the United States fail, growth could be limited to just 1.3%.

Fiscal Policy Office (FPO): In July, the FPO revised its GDP forecast from 2.1% to 2.2%, citing stronger-than-expected industrial recovery, better export performance, private consumption, and continued momentum from both public and private investment supporting the economy in the second half of the year.

International Monetary Fund (IMF): The IMF currently projects Thailand’s economy to expand by around 1.8% this year. However, it noted that in its next review, there is a likelihood of an upward revision, reflecting stronger export growth.

However, in managing the economy this year, the NESDC has emphasised six key priorities for steering Thailand’s economy in 2025:

Accelerating budget disbursement to ensure government spending quickly enters the economic system and sustains fiscal momentum.

Preparing for heightened trade protectionism from major trading partners.

Safeguarding domestic industries from dumping practices and unfair trade policies.

Supporting SMEs struggling with access to liquidity as credit quality continues to weaken.

Strengthening agricultural production and farmer incomes.

Restoring tourist confidence to drive continued growth in the tourism sector.

Read more:https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/business/economy/40054128

17/08/2025

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has released data on passenger traffic between Thailand and China, noting that after the COVID-19 pandemic subsided, passenger numbers on this route steadily recovered. The rebound was supported by China’s reopening policy and the implementation of a visa-exemption scheme (Free Visa), which boosted tourism.

Since 2023, passenger volumes had been rising continuously. However, an incident affecting Chinese travellers’ confidence in safety early in 2025 led to a decline. A comparison of Chinese passenger travel between 2024 and 2025 shows the following:

Inbound passengers on Thai–China routes (monthly average)

2024: 615,000
2025: 531,000 (down 13.63%)

Chinese tourists (monthly average)

2024: 561,000
2025: 378,000 (down 32.71%)

According to air transport statistics, the number of inbound passengers on Thai–China routes in January 2025 reached 751,000, a 34.68% increase compared with the same month in 2024. The growth was largely attributed to the Free Visa policy introduced by both countries, which boosted travel by Thai tourists to China and Chinese tourists to Thailand.

However, following a safety-related incident that undermined Chinese travellers’ confidence in visiting Thailand, the average monthly passenger volume in 2025 fell by 13.63%. This aligns with figures from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, which show that the average number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand declined by 32.71% in 2025.

Nevertheless, Thai travellers continue to visit China in large numbers, which has cushioned the aviation sector from the sharper decline seen in the tourism industry. This is reflected in the smaller drop in overall passenger numbers compared with the decline in Chinese tourist arrivals.

The Thai–China route remains one of the country’s key air transport corridors. In 2024, it accounted for 18.71% of all international passengers. Yet, when comparing the January–May period of 2025 with the same period in 2024, passenger numbers on this route dropped by 12.30%.

The CAAT has cautioned that, with passenger numbers on this major route showing a downward trend in 2025, the overall figure may continue to fall unless new tourist markets emerge.

It identified four key factors to monitor that could affect passenger numbers on Thai–China flights.

Thailand’s tourism high season in the fourth quarter of 2025

The outlook for Chinese travellers during the summer school holiday

China’s economic situation and ongoing trade war policies

Thailand’s measures to restore confidence in travel safety

Read more: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/tourism/40054127

17/08/2025

The Meteorological Department has warned of widespread heavy rain across Thailand on Sunday (August 17), as a monsoon trough extends across the lower North and Northeast into a strong low-pressure system over the upper South China Sea. Combined with a relatively strong south-westerly monsoon prevailing over the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand, conditions are expected to bring significant rainfall.

Bangkok and its vicinity face a 70% chance of rain, while the eastern region is forecast to experience the heaviest downpours with an 80% chance of rainfall. The public has been advised to remain vigilant, particularly in Mae Hong Son, Tak, Phitsanulok, Phetchabun, Chanthaburi, and Trat provinces, where torrential rain may cause flash floods and runoffs, especially in foothill areas, near waterways, and in low-lying zones.

At sea, waves in the upper Andaman Sea are expected to reach 2-3 metres, rising above 3 metres during thunderstorms. In the lower Andaman Sea and the upper Gulf of Thailand, waves will be about 2 metres high, and over 2 metres during storms. Mariners are urged to proceed with caution, avoid sailing in stormy areas, and small boats in the upper Andaman Sea are advised to stay ashore until at least on Sunday.

The Meteorological Department has issued its 24-hour forecast for Thailand from 6am on Sunday (August 17) to 6am on Monday (August 18)

Bangkok and vicinity will see thunderstorms in 70% of areas, with some heavy rain. Temperatures will range between 25–27°C at night and 31–32°C during the day.

Northern region: Thunderstorms are expected in 70% of areas, with heavy rain in Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang, Phrae, Uttaradit, Sukhothai, Tak, Kamphaeng Phet, Phitsanulok, Phichit, and Phetchabun. Minimum temperatures 22–25°C, maximum 31–34°C.

Northeast: Thunderstorms in 70% of areas, with heavy rain in Chaiyaphum, Bueng Kan, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Ubon Ratchathani. Lows 23–24°C, highs 31–33°C.

Central region: Thunderstorms in 70% of areas, with heavy rain in Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Lopburi, Saraburi, and Kanchanaburi. Temperatures 23–25°C at night, 32–33°C during the day.

Eastern region: Heavy to very heavy rain in 80% of areas, particularly in Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Sa Kaeo, Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi, and Trat. Minimum temperatures 23–26°C, maximum 28–33°C. Waves in the Gulf and eastern seas will reach around 2 metres, rising higher in thunderstorms.

Southern region (east coast): Thunderstorms in 60% of areas, with heavy rain in Prachuap Khiri Khan and Chumphon. Seas will see waves of 1–2 metres, higher offshore and during storms.

Southern region (west coast): Thunderstorms in 60% of areas, with heavy rain in Ranong and Phang Nga. Seas off Phuket and northwards will have waves of 2–3 metres, rising above 3 metres in storms. Southwards from Krabi, waves will reach about 2 metres.

Read more:

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40054126

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