Chinese envoy asks Thais not to use “grey Chinese” term

The Chinese ambassador to Thailand has urged Thais not to use the term “grey Chinese” when talking about Chinese nationals involved in crime, warning it makes China feel that Thailand is being unfriendly and is unfairly stigmatising Chinese people as a whole, according to Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul.

During their recent meeting, Ambassador Zhang Jianwei told him that, if Chinese nationals are found to be breaking the law, Thai authorities should take action against them, but should avoid using the term “grey Chinese”.

“There are, however, also many Chinese visitors who spend money in Thailand and contribute to the economy,” Surasak quoted the envoy as saying, adding that he had claimed that the term “grey Chinese” labels and stereotypes all Chinese people, as if the whole country were being blamed.

Surasak said he agrees that anyone found breaking the law in Thailand must face legal action, but they should not be unfairly lumped together with others of the same nationality.

His remarks came amid growing concern over illegal businesses and foreign nationals using Thailand’s tourism sector as a cover for unlawful activities. Surasak said reports of Chinese nationals setting up delivery rider companies to serve only Chinese customers were clearly illegal and would be subject to a crackdown.

Chinese nationals have been implicated in a range of illegal activities in Thailand, including the use of Thai nominees to unlawfully control businesses in reserved sectors, such as property, hotels, restaurants, transport and tourism services, as well as visa overstays and operating businesses without permits.

Some have also been linked to transnational cybercrime networks operating along Thailand’s borders.

Surasak said the government would focus on raising the quality and value of tourism rather than simply chasing visitor numbers.

He said the government was not fixated on restoring foreign arrivals to the pre-pandemic level of 39 million, but instead wanted to improve visitor experiences and raise service standards across the tourism industry.

Surasak also said Thailand has already scrapped its 60-day pre-travel visa-free scheme, as part of efforts to screen visitors more effectively.

Shortening pre-travel visa-free stays, he claimed, will help deter people who were not genuine tourists.

On enforcement, he said the Tourist Police are using AI-equipped cameras in tourism areas, including at Samui Island’s main pier in Surat Thani, to identify over-stayers and monitor unlawful activity.

He added that the prime minister has placed particular importance on tackling cases in Phuket, involving foreigners using Thai nationals as proxy shareholders.