#China

A sweeping Afrobarometer survey capturing tens of thousands of African citizens across dozens of countries finds that China’s reputation as a development partner remains high, even as concerns over debt and the quality of Chinese goods persist. For Thai readers and policymakers watching any shift in global influence, the findings map a complex picture: widespread appreciation for infrastructure and investment, tempered by worries about repayment and the long-term sustainability of debt-financed projects. In Thailand’s own context—where development cooperation, regional engagement, and careful budgeting are daily realities—the African case offers both lessons and cautions about how partnerships with external powers unfold on the ground.

A 15% surge in Chinese visitors to Paris signals a robust rebound in global luxury travel and a renewed appetite for European city breaks after the pandemic era of travel restrictions. The lead story points to a quiet but powerful shift: Paris remains a magnet for Chinese travelers, not just for its world‑famous museums and couture boutiques, but for a broader cultural experience that blends history, gastronomy, and modern city life. For Thai travelers and Thai tourism professionals watching global travel patterns, the Paris rebound is another piece of a long-running puzzle about how Asia’s shifting outbound demand shapes regional and domestic travel ecosystems.

Chongqing has evolved from an industrial backbone into a global tourism magnet, drawing visitors with its dramatic vertical streets, neon-lit nights, and distinctive monorails weaving through neighborhoods. Since China reopened post-pandemic and eased certain travel rules, foreign arrivals have surged. The city’s new connectivity, highlighted by the vast Chongqing East high-speed rail complex, makes it easier for Southeast Asian travelers to reach this mountain metropolis. For Thai readers, Chongqing offers short-haul flight options, visa-free entry considerations, and unique experiences—from monorails threading through buildings to cliffside escalators and fiery hotpot culture—that stand apart from the typical Beijing-Shanghai circuit.

A visually striking Chinese city has emerged as a top global urban destination, drawing travelers with its vertical skylines, innovative transport networks, and luminous nightscapes. Once relatively obscure internationally, Chongqing now captivates audiences through strategic social media storytelling, turning architectural marvels and futuristic urban design into powerful attractions. This transformation offers valuable insights for Thailand’s tourism development, showing how authentic city character, digital engagement, and thoughtful planning can create sustainable growth.

An environmental crisis of unprecedented scale now engulfs Southeast Asia as China’s systematic closure of polluting industries has triggered massive relocation of contaminating manufacturing operations, overwhelming waste processing systems and toxic material disposal infrastructure throughout the region. This industrial exodus, representing a troubling evolution of traditional economic development patterns, delivers substantial employment opportunities alongside devastating environmental consequences that threaten public health and ecological stability across Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia. China’s enforcement of stringent environmental regulations since 2018 has compelled thousands of polluting enterprises to seek alternative operational bases in Southeast Asian nations with weaker regulatory oversight, effectively exporting environmental degradation rather than eliminating harmful industrial practices entirely.

A new wave of relocating industries, dubbed the “new flying geese,” is bringing both foreign capital and mounting waste to Southeast Asia as China tightens its environmental regulations. This phenomenon, highlighted in a recent Nikkei Asia opinion article, signals a momentous shift in regional manufacturing that may reshape Southeast Asia’s economies and environment for years to come.

The “flying geese paradigm” originally described how industrialization travels in formation from advanced economies to less-developed ones—first from Japan, and more recently from China to Southeast Asia. Today, as China ramps up its enforcement on pollution and waste, manufacturers and recycling businesses—long byproducts of foreign investment—are relocating their operations to Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia. This move is accompanied not just by new jobs and capital inflows but also by an influx of plastic, electronic, and other hazardous wastes in their wake (CFR; National Geographic).

A devastating wave of technologically advanced cybercrime operations has transformed Southeast Asia into the epicenter of a global digital fraud epidemic, with criminal syndicates orchestrating billion-dollar theft schemes while exploiting vulnerable workers through human trafficking networks. This escalating crisis directly threatens Thailand’s economic stability, digital transformation goals, and citizen safety, as sophisticated criminal organizations leverage regional connectivity and regulatory gaps to build unprecedented fraud empires that target both Thai nationals and international victims.

A recent surge in highly organized online scams running out of Southeast Asia has escalated into what experts are calling a global “scamdemic,” with billions of dollars stolen, hundreds of thousands of victims, and entire communities in Thailand and across the region at risk. The phenomenon, driven largely by transnational criminal networks, is now recognized as a crisis threatening personal safety, national security, and international cooperation.

What began as a relatively contained problem has exploded in scale and complexity, fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic, regulatory loopholes, and advances in digital communications. According to a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), fraud syndicates run primarily by Chinese organized crime have set up scam hubs in countries including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and the Philippines, with operations increasingly targeting Thais and foreigners alike (VOA News). These criminal enterprises lure job seekers with false promises, only to force them into working in call center-like factories under threats of violence and, in some cases, death.

A surge in sophisticated cybercrime has put Southeast Asia at the center of a global fraud wave. Criminal networks run multi-billion schemes that not only steal money but also exploit workers through trafficking and forced labor. The impact threatens Thailand’s economy, digital transformation goals, and citizen safety as criminals exploit regional links and regulatory gaps to grow their operations.

This menace goes beyond traditional scams. It involves cybercrime, human trafficking, forced labor, and money laundering on a large scale. Research by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime shows that organized groups—mainly linked to China—have built extensive scam infrastructures across Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and the Philippines. These facilities position Thailand as both a recruitment source and an operational hub, making the country a frontline in this regional crisis.

A new study published by BMC Public Health has revealed a dramatic rise in public attention toward infertility in China, using Baidu search data to map nationwide trends and public sentiment around reproductive health issues. As infertility rates have soared from 7.5% in 2007 to an estimated 18.2% in 2020—now affecting one in five Chinese couples of reproductive age—the demand for information and solutions is reaching new heights, underscoring both societal anxieties and gaps in healthcare infrastructure. The findings provide powerful insights for Thai policymakers and families as Thailand faces similar demographic transitions and a shifting culture around fertility and family planning.

A recent study in BMC Public Health analyzes Baidu search trends to understand how people in China seek information about infertility, IVF, and related topics. The findings show infertility rates rising from 7.5% in 2007 to about 18.2% in 2020, suggesting roughly one in five couples of reproductive age could be affected. The research highlights public demand for information and gaps in healthcare infrastructure, offering timely lessons for Thailand as it navigates similar demographic and cultural shifts around fertility.

A seismic shift is reverberating through the global scientific community as China firmly overtakes the United States to become the world’s leading science nation, marking a pivotal moment with profound ramifications for research, innovation, and international collaboration. This trend, explored in a recent commentary and substantiated by the latest data from the prestigious Nature Index, signals not just a changing of the guard but an acceleration of the gap in scientific output and influence between the two global superpowers.

China has unveiled sweeping updates to its value-added tax (VAT) refund scheme for international tourists, rolling out instant refunds in additional locations and making the process smoother and more enticing for overseas visitors. The new policy—effective from July 1, 2025—marks a major departure from the previous refund-upon-departure model, allowing eligible tourists to claim cash back directly at participating stores and select refund counters, rather than navigating cumbersome airport procedures. This change aims to attract greater numbers of foreign tourists, boost retail spending, and revitalize the local economy after several challenging years for China’s tourism industry.

A major reform in China’s VAT refund system promises faster cashbacks for international visitors. Starting July 1, 2025, eligible tourists can receive VAT refunds instantly at participating stores or designated counters, reducing the need for airport queues. The move aims to rejuvenate China’s tourism sector and spur retail spending after recent challenges.

For Thai travelers, the change could significantly affect shopping plans. Instant refunds at the point of sale are common in top destinations such as Japan, Australia, and parts of the European Union, but China’s expansion marks a notable upgrade. The program will cover major cities including Shanghai and Beijing initially, with expansion to Dalian and Hubei province announced for July 2025. Dozens more duty-free shops, shopping centers, and airports nationwide are expected to join over time.

Thai tea is taking China by storm this summer, evolving from a traveler’s delight into a social media sensation with millions of views on platforms like Douyin and RedNote. A standout highlight is Thai Cheese Tea from major brand YAKE & YASI, which topped 200,000 cups in three weeks. This surge signals more than a trend; it points to evolving consumer patterns with meaningful implications for Thai businesses, exporters, and the global image of Thailand’s food and beverage culture.

China’s bold experiment in introducing artificial intelligence (AI) education to primary schoolers is sending shockwaves through classrooms—and corporate boardrooms—around the world. As six-year-olds in Beijing begin learning about the building blocks of AI, over 250 chief executives from top global companies, including Microsoft, Airbnb, and Uber, are demanding similar lessons for American students in the hopes of unlocking economic and social benefits on a global scale (Fortune, MSN). The move marks a pivotal moment not just for the United States, which is now scrambling to keep pace, but for Thailand and the wider world, where the question is no longer whether AI belongs in childhood education—but when and how.

In a sweeping move to uphold the integrity of its gaokao college entrance examinations, China’s leading artificial intelligence companies temporarily suspended several AI chatbot services during the nation’s high-stress exam period, according to multiple reports including The Verge and Bloomberg. This sudden deactivation of key AI features marks a significant line of defense in the global battle against high-tech academic dishonesty, with important implications for countries like Thailand, where similar challenges are poised to reshape the educational landscape.

A unique and controversial exercise known as the “hanging neck” workout is making headlines in China, capturing the attention of health professionals and the general public across Asia. The trend, in which elderly participants suspend themselves by their necks from tree branches or fitness bars, was spotlighted after multiple accounts surfaced online touting its supposed benefits for neck and back pain—but also, alarmingly, after news broke of a tragic death resulting from the practice (Times of India).

A controversial trend known as the “hanging neck” workout has drawn global concern after emerging in China. Elderly participants reportedly suspend themselves by their necks from branches or bars, with some testimonials claiming relief from neck and back pain. Public warnings followed a fatal incident in Chongqing, highlighting severe risks from this practice.

The movement began in Shenyang, where a 57-year-old man created a homemade device to self-treat chronic neck discomfort. Videos showed seniors swinging gently from trees, which quickly went viral on social media. Supporters claim the technique reduces nerve pressure and improves sleep, prompting more elderly people to try it. However, medical professionals caution that the neck is not built to support body weight in dynamic motions, and improper use can cause nerve damage, disc injuries, or cervical fractures. Recent reporting notes a tragic death linked to misused equipment, underscoring the danger of unsupervised practice.

Thailand began a sweeping crackdown in early 2025 to shield its reputation as a regional business hub and protect citizens from scam networks. New research and expert analysis show the fight is protracted and, some warn, unwinnable in the near term as syndicates adapt, relocate, and persist despite government actions. The latest findings illuminate how deeply rooted and complex scam networks are across mainland Southeast Asia, especially along porous borders and in neighboring countries.

A shadow economy along the Thai–Myanmar border remains entrenched, even after international attention and police crackdowns. A May 2025 analysis in East Asia Forum shows that these networks are resilient, challenging authorities on both sides and complicating regional security and governance.

For Thai readers, border crime is not distant. It affects security, legitimate business, and the country’s international standing. Two hubs have emerged as especially influential: KK Park, linked to transnational criminal networks, and Shwe Kokko, associated with controversial Chinese investment interests. Both operate in the Moei river border zone and are tied to corruption, cybercrime, online gambling, and human trafficking. Data from East Asia Forum indicates these operations thrive through deep connections with state actors, private firms, and local militias.

A prominent gynaecologist in southern China has captured widespread attention—and sparked a lively online debate—with an unconventional approach to women’s health: he recently recommended that women suffering from low energy and stress should look at muscular men as a form of visual therapy to enhance mood and relieve stress, according to a report by MoneyControl and other regional news outlets (MoneyControl, NDTV, South China Morning Post).

The doctor’s advice, delivered with a mix of humor and seriousness in a recent viral video, comes at a time when mental health and stress management are dominating public discourse—both globally and in Thailand. For Thai readers contending with high rates of workplace stress, urban fatigue, and the pressure to maintain “phu-ying suay” (female beauty and poise), any new approach to boosting well-being is bound to pique curiosity.

A viral debate has sparked over an unconventional health suggestion from a Chinese gynecologist: could women’s mood be boosted by simply looking at muscular men? The remark, delivered with humor in a public video, has stirred online conversations about non-pharmacological approaches to well-being. For Thai readers facing workplace stress and urban fatigue, any fresh perspective on stress management could be intriguing, but it must rest on solid science.

The doctor, based at a major public hospital in Shenzhen with a large social media following, linked symptoms such as lethargy, dull skin, dizziness, and insomnia to “qi and blood deficiencies.” He proposed that women experiencing these signs seek “visual pleasure” by viewing fit, muscular men. He suggested this visual input could stimulate the brain’s reward system and release dopamine, a chemical associated with happiness and stress relief.

A striking new trend in China, known as “reverse parenting,” is capturing attention worldwide as children take the reins of household responsibilities, preparing meals, cleaning, and even shopping for groceries — all while their parents look on with approval. This shift challenges traditional family roles and is backed by educators and mental health experts who argue that giving children more responsibility can instill independence, self-sufficiency, empathy, and discipline (News18; South China Morning Post (SCMP); India Today).