https://www.scmp.com/rss/524510/feed The latest news and updates on Phumtham Wechayachai, a seasoned Thai politician, he is a trusted confidant of the Shinawatra family and a veteran of the Pheu Thai Party. He has held numerous significant cabinet roles, including Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Commerce, and Minister of Defence. Currently, he also serves as Interior Minister. His responsibilities have encompassed promoting international trade, notably with China, and fostering development in southern border regions. He... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Thailand approved the purchase of four Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets on Tuesday, the air force said, a week after reaching a ceasefire in deadly border clashes with Cambodia. The US$600 million agreement for the Saab JAS 39 Gripens was first announced in June as part of a long-term plan to modernise the air force’s combat capabilities. During five days of clashes with Cambodia that left more than 40 people dead, Thailand used its fleet of F-16s to strike military targets across the border. It... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3320828/us-f-16s-lose-out-thai-air-force-seals-us600-million-deal-swedish-gripen-jets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3320828/us-f-16s-lose-out-thai-air-force-seals-us600-million-deal-swedish-gripen-jets?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Aug 2025 09:31:53 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang China held talks with representatives from Thailand and Cambodia on Wednesday as efforts to defuse tensions following the recent deadly border clashes continued. The three-way discussions in Shanghai, hosted by vice-minister for foreign affairs Sun Weidong, secured a commitment from both sides to abide by the ceasefire and were described by Beijing as an “informal consultation” given the “fragile situation” on the ground. Underscoring that fragility, the two sides continued to trade accusations... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3320180/china-vows-continue-thailand-cambodia-peace-efforts-after-informal-post-truce-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3320180/china-vows-continue-thailand-cambodia-peace-efforts-after-informal-post-truce-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Jul 2025 13:26:10 +0000 C. Uday Bhaskar C. Uday Bhaskar The unconditional ceasefire agreed to by Thailand and Cambodia that came into force from midnight on Monday is to be cautiously welcomed, and current Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) chair Malaysia is to be commended for enabling this truce. China and the United States also played a role in nudging the two Southeast Asian neighbours to end the unexpected escalation in a military conflict over a disputed border that saw the use of fighter jets, drones, tanks and artillery guns. The... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3320083/cambodia-thailand-ceasefire-welcome-festering-grievances-must-be-tackled?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3320083/cambodia-thailand-ceasefire-welcome-festering-grievances-must-be-tackled?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Jul 2025 12:30:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The Association of Southeast Asian Nations stands, above all, for the preservation of peace among its 10 members. Now Asean’s fundamental principles of consensus and non-interference in one another’s affairs are being put to the test by deadly clashes along a disputed border between Thailand and Cambodia. Thailand’s acting leader has not ruled out an escalation into war. The challenge to Asean’s credibility and implications for regional stability have prompted deepening international concern,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3319691/aseans-credibility-stake-thai-cambodia-border-clash-rages?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3319691/aseans-credibility-stake-thai-cambodia-border-clash-rages?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Jul 2025 22:45:07 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Thai and Cambodian leaders plan to meet in Malaysia for talks to end hostilities, the Thai prime minister’s office said on Sunday. This followed mediation efforts by US President Donald Trump to end the deadly border dispute. The four days of fighting have killed at least 34 people and displaced more than 168,000. Government spokesman Jirayu Huangsap said acting Thailand’s Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai would attend Monday’s talks in response to an invitation from Malaysian Prime Minister... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3319718/trump-says-thailand-and-cambodia-agree-hold-immediate-ceasefire-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3319718/trump-says-thailand-and-cambodia-agree-hold-immediate-ceasefire-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Jul 2025 19:21:30 +0000 Aidan Jones Aidan Jones An already bloody border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia spiralled further on Saturday, as the Thai navy mobilised gunboats and both governments exchanged blame for a conflict that has left dozens dead and forced tens of thousands to flee their homes. Gunboats patrolled the coastline of Trat – a province bordering Cambodia – after Thai officials accused Cambodian forces of crossing into their territory early on Saturday. The new naval deployments reflect a deepening of hostilities after... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3319668/cambodia-seeks-immediate-ceasefire-thailand-after-2-days-deadly-strikes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3319668/cambodia-seeks-immediate-ceasefire-thailand-after-2-days-deadly-strikes?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Jul 2025 22:26:16 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Thailand expelled the Cambodian ambassador on Wednesday and recalled its own envoy, after a Thai soldier lost a leg in a landmine blast as a border dispute festers. Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said an investigation by the Thai military found evidence that Cambodia had laid new landmines in the disputed area. A long-running territorial row in an area known as the Emerald Triangle, where the borders of both countries and Laos meet, boiled over into military clashes in May that left... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3319333/thailand-expels-cambodian-envoy-after-soldier-loses-leg-blast-border-landmine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3319333/thailand-expels-cambodian-envoy-after-soldier-loses-leg-blast-border-landmine?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Jul 2025 14:33:34 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Police in Thailand arrested a woman on Tuesday who allegedly enticed a string of Buddhist monks into sexual relationships and then pressured them into making large payments to cover up their intimacy. The possible violation of the celibacy rule for monks has rocked Buddhist institutions and gripped public attention in Thailand in recent weeks. At least nine abbots and senior monks involved in the scandal have been disrobed and cast out of the monkhood, the Royal Thai Police Central Investigation... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3318344/thai-police-arrest-woman-buddhist-monk-blackmail-and-sex-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3318344/thai-police-arrest-woman-buddhist-monk-blackmail-and-sex-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Jul 2025 22:00:14 +0000 Agencies Agencies Thailand’s cabinet on Tuesday withdrew a draft law for casinos and entertainment complexes, citing the need for more time to engage with the public and create more understanding about the issue. The government earlier set its sights on building a major gaming industry that will complement tourism, a key economic driver for the country, with a draft bill to legalise gambling slated to be deliberated on by parliament on Wednesday. But the suspension of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3317410/thailand-delays-controversial-casino-legalisation-bill-amid-pm-suspension-political-instability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3317410/thailand-delays-controversial-casino-legalisation-bill-amid-pm-suspension-political-instability?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Jul 2025 10:18:08 +0000