Latest news with #PheuThaiParty-led
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Thai military prepared for 'high-level operation' if Cambodia border row escalates
FILE PHOTO: A Buddhist monk visits the Preah Vihear temple on the border between Thailand and Cambodia, November 12, 2013. REUTERS/Samrang Pring/File Photo BANGKOK - Thailand's military said it is ready to launch a "high-level operation" to counter any violation of its sovereignty, in the strongest words yet in a simmering border dispute with Cambodia that re-erupted with a deadly clash last week. The army said in a statement late on Thursday that its intelligence gathering indicated Cambodia had stepped up its military readiness at their border while diplomatic efforts were ongoing, describing that as "worrisome". The statement was in sharp contrast with one from the government just hours earlier, when it urged Cambodia to positively engage in dialogue via an existing mechanism between them. "The army is now ready for a high-level military operation in case it is necessary to retaliate against the violation of sovereignty," it said, ahead of a meeting of its armed forces top brass scheduled for Friday. "Operations of units at the border have been conducted carefully, calmly and based on an understanding of the situation to prevent losses on all sides, but at the same time, are ready to defend the country's sovereignty to the fullest extent if the situation is called for." Cambodia's government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Thai military statement on Friday. The governments of the two countries had for days exchanged carefully worded statements committing to dialogue after a brief skirmish in an undemarcated border area on May 28 in which a Cambodian soldier was killed. Although the two countries have a historic rivalry, their governments enjoy friendly ties, partly due to the close relationship between their influential former leaders, Thailand's Thaksin Shinawatra and Cambodia's Hun Sen, whose daughter and son respectively are now the prime ministers in their countries. The issue comes at a tricky time for the Pheu Thai Party-led administration in Thailand as it battles to revive a flagging economy that could be hit by steep U.S. tariffs, while facing a challenge to its popularity having paused a signature cash handout to tens of millions of people. The party of the billionaire Shinawatra family has a troubled history with the Thai military, which twice toppled its governments in 2006 and 2014 coups. Deadly clashes between Cambodia and Thailand last erupted in 2011 over the Preah Vihear, a 900-year-old temple at the heart of a decades-long row that has stirred nationalist sentiment on both sides. The International Court of Justice in 2013 ruled in favour of Cambodia in clarifying a 1962 decision to award it jurisdiction over the temple, saying part of the land around it was Cambodia's and Thai troops must withdraw from the area. Cambodia said this week it is committed to peace and plans to resolve the issue by referring disputes over four parts of their border to the ICJ and has asked Thailand to cooperate. Thailand says it does not recognise the court's jurisdiction. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
an hour ago
- Business
- The Star
Thai military prepared for 'high-level operation' if Cambodia border row escalates
FILE PHOTO: A Buddhist monk visits the Preah Vihear temple on the border between Thailand and Cambodia, November 12, 2013. REUTERS/Samrang Pring/File Photo BANGKOK (Reuters) -Thailand's military said it is ready to launch a "high-level operation" to counter any violation of its sovereignty, in the strongest words yet in a simmering border dispute with Cambodia that re-erupted with a deadly clash last week. The army said in a statement late on Thursday that its intelligence gathering indicated Cambodia had stepped up its military readiness at their border while diplomatic efforts were ongoing, describing that as "worrisome". The statement was in sharp contrast with one from the government just hours earlier, when it urged Cambodia to positively engagein dialogue via an existing mechanism between them. "The army is now ready for a high-level military operation in case it is necessary to retaliate against the violation of sovereignty," it said, ahead of a meeting of its armed forces top brass scheduled for Friday. "Operations of units at the border have been conducted carefully, calmly and based on an understanding of the situation to prevent losses on all sides, but at the same time, are ready to defend the country's sovereignty to the fullest extent if the situation is called for." Cambodia's government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Thai military statement on Friday. The governments of the two countries had for days exchanged carefully worded statements committing to dialogue after a brief skirmish in an undemarcated border area on May 28 in which a Cambodian soldier was killed. Although the two countries have a historic rivalry, their governments enjoy friendly ties, partly due to the close relationship between their influential former leaders, Thailand's Thaksin Shinawatra and Cambodia's Hun Sen, whose daughter and son respectively are now the prime ministers in their countries. The issue comes at a tricky time for the Pheu Thai Party-led administration in Thailand as it battles to revive a flagging economy that could be hit by steep U.S. tariffs, while facing a challenge to its popularity having paused a signature cash handout to tens of millions of people. The party of the billionaire Shinawatra family has a troubled history with the Thai military, which twice toppled its governments in 2006 and 2014 coups. Deadly clashes between Cambodia and Thailand last erupted in 2011 over the Preah Vihear, a 900-year-old temple at the heart of a decades-long row that has stirred nationalist sentiment on both sides. The International Court of Justice in 2013 ruled in favour of Cambodia in clarifying a 1962 decision to award it jurisdiction overthe temple, saying part of the land around it was Cambodia's and Thai troops must withdraw from the area. Cambodia said this week it is committed to peace and plans to resolve the issue by referring disputes over four parts of their border to the ICJ and has asked Thailand to cooperate. Thailand says it does not recognise the court's jurisdiction. (Reporting Juarawee Kittisilpa; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by John Mair)
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Thai military prepared for 'high-level operation' if Cambodia border row escalates
By Juarawee Kittisilpa, Panu Wongcha-um BANGKOK (Reuters) -Thailand's military said it is ready to launch a "high-level operation" to counter any violation of its sovereignty, in the strongest words yet in a simmering border dispute with Cambodia that re-erupted with a deadly clash last week. The army said in a statement late on Thursday that its intelligence gathering indicated Cambodia had stepped up its military readiness at their border while diplomatic efforts were ongoing, describing that as "worrisome". The statement was in sharp contrast with one from the government just hours earlier, when it urged Cambodia to positively engage in dialogue via an existing mechanism between them. "The army is now ready for a high-level military operation in case it is necessary to retaliate against the violation of sovereignty," it said, ahead of a meeting of its armed forces top brass scheduled for Friday. "Operations of units at the border have been conducted carefully, calmly and based on an understanding of the situation to prevent losses on all sides, but at the same time, are ready to defend the country's sovereignty to the fullest extent if the situation is called for." Cambodia's government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Thai military statement on Friday. The governments of the two countries had for days exchanged carefully worded statements committing to dialogue after a brief skirmish in an undemarcated border area on May 28 in which a Cambodian soldier was killed. Although the two countries have a historic rivalry, their governments enjoy friendly ties, partly due to the close relationship between their influential former leaders, Thailand's Thaksin Shinawatra and Cambodia's Hun Sen, whose daughter and son respectively are now the prime ministers in their countries. The issue comes at a tricky time for the Pheu Thai Party-led administration in Thailand as it battles to revive a flagging economy that could be hit by steep U.S. tariffs, while facing a challenge to its popularity having paused a signature cash handout to tens of millions of people. The party of the billionaire Shinawatra family has a troubled history with the Thai military, which twice toppled its governments in 2006 and 2014 coups. Deadly clashes between Cambodia and Thailand last erupted in 2011 over the Preah Vihear, a 900-year-old temple at the heart of a decades-long row that has stirred nationalist sentiment on both sides. The International Court of Justice in 2013 ruled in favour of Cambodia in clarifying a 1962 decision to award it jurisdiction over the temple, saying part of the land around it was Cambodia's and Thai troops must withdraw from the area. Cambodia said this week it is committed to peace and plans to resolve the issue by referring disputes over four parts of their border to the ICJ and has asked Thailand to cooperate. Thailand says it does not recognise the court's jurisdiction. (Reporting Juarawee Kittisilpa; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by John Mair)
The Star
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Thai PM presents US$115 billion budget to parliament to support lacklustre economy
Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra arrives ahead of a no-confidence vote at the parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, on Mar 26, 2025. - Photo: Reuters BANGKOK: Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Wednesday (May 28) proposed a 3.78 trillion baht (US$115.5 billion) budget to parliament for the 2026 fiscal year, as her government seeks to support a sluggish economy facing steep US tariffs. The draft budget bill, which is being debated in the house over the next four days, projects a 0.7% rise in spending, and a 0.7% drop in the budget deficit to 860 billion baht, or 4.3% of gross domestic product, from the 2025 fiscal year that ends in September. The proposed budget "aims to revive and drive the economy toward sustainable growth while improving the quality of life for the people in all aspects," Paetongtarn told parliament. "Given the constraints on revenue and the global economic situation, the government is pursuing a deficit budget policy to maintain economic stability." The budget plan projects growth at 2.3% to 3.3% for both 2025 and 2026, with inflation predicted at 0.5% to 1.5%. The economy expanded 2.5% last year, lagging regional peers. The plan did not take into account the potential impact of US tariffs on its goods, which will be at 36% if a reduction cannot be negotiated before a moratorium expires in July. The United States is Thailand's biggest export market. Southeast Asia's second-largest economy expanded an annual 3.1% in the first quarter, but the state planning agency last week slashed its full-year growth forecast range by a percentage point to 1.3% to 2.3% because of the US tariffs. Opposition leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut accused the government of lacking a strategy for its spending. "The concerning issue is not the borrowing itself but rather that the government is overspending without an investment plan or revenue strategy to support it," he said. The bill will be put to a vote of parliament on Saturday (May 31), which will require support from the majority of lawmakers present. The budget is expected to pass, but comes amid tensions in the Pheu Thai Party-led coalition, particularly with its biggest partner, the Bhumjaithai Party. Disagreements have surfaced over the government's casino bill, which aims to legalise casinos within integrated complexes to boost tourism. Rifts over constitutional reform and policy on the use and sale of cannabis, which was decriminalised in 2022 but is now facing tighter restrictions, have also strained the alliance. If the budget does not pass, Paetongtarn, who came to power last year, could either step down and make way for a new premier elected by parliament, or dissolve the house and call a new general election. - Reuters
Business Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Thailand PM to propose 3.78 trillion baht budget to parliament to support lacklustre economy
[BANGKOK] Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will on Wednesday (May 28) propose a 3.78 trillion baht (S$149 billion) budget to parliament for the 2026 fiscal year, as her government seeks to support a sluggish economy facing steep US tariffs. The draft budget Bill, which will be debated in the house over the next four days, projects a 0.7 per cent rise in spending, and a 0.7 per cent drop in the budget deficit to 860 billion baht, or 4.3 per cent of gross domestic product, from the 2025 fiscal year that ends in September. 'A deficit budget policy is aimed at maintaining economic stability, including supporting a recovery and promoting growth at an appropriate level,' the Bill said. The budget plan projects growth at 2.3 to 3.3 per cent for both 2025 and 2026, with inflation predicted at 0.5 to 1.5 per cent. The economy expanded 2.5 per cent last year, lagging regional peers. The plan did not take into account the potential impact of US tariffs. Thailand faces a 36 per cent US tariff if a reduction cannot be negotiated before a moratorium expires in July. The US, Thailand's biggest export market, has set a 10 per cent baseline tariff for most countries while the moratorium is in place. Parliament will deliberate on the bill in the remainder of this week before it is put to a vote on Saturday, which will require support from the majority of lawmakers present. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am Asean Business Business insights centering on South-east Asia's fast-growing economies. Sign Up Sign Up The budget is expected to pass, but comes amid tensions in the Pheu Thai Party-led coalition, particularly with its biggest partner, the Bhumjaithai Party. Disagreements have surfaced over the government's casino bill, which aims to legalise casinos within integrated complexes to boost tourism. Rifts over constitutional reform and policy on the use and sale of cannabis, which was decriminalised in 2022 but is now facing tighter restrictions, have also strained the alliance. If the budget does not pass, Paetongtarn, who came to power last year, could either step down and make way for a new premier elected by parliament, or dissolve the lower house and call a new general election. South-east Asia's second-largest economy expanded an annual 3.1 per cent in the first quarter, but the state planning agency last week slashed its full-year growth forecast range by a percentage point to 1.3 to 2.3 per cent because of the US tariffs. REUTERS
