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China applies to join Pacific trade pact in bid to boost economic clout

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BEIJING, Sept 16 (Reuters) – China has filed an application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the country’s commerce ministry said on Thursday, as the world’s second-biggest economy looks to bolster its clout in trade.

Commerce Minister Wang Wentao submitted China’s application to join the free trade agreement in a letter to New Zealand’s trade minister, Damien O’Connor, the Chinese ministry said in a statement.

The CPTPP was signed by 11 countries including Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan and New Zealand in 2018.

Before that, it was known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and seen as an important economic counterweight to China’s regional influence.

It was central to then-U.S. President Barack Obama’s strategic pivot to Asia but his successor, Donald Trump, withdrew the United States from the pact in 2017.

Accession to the CPTPP would be a major boost for China following the signing of the 15-nation Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade agreement last year.

Beijing has lobbied for its inclusion in the pact, including by highlighting that the Chinese and Australian economies have enormous potential for cooperation. However, relations between the two countries have soured.

Britain and Thailand have also signalled interest in joining the CPTPP.

Wang and O’Connor held a telephone conference to discuss the next steps following China’s application, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said.

Reporting by Colin Qian, Twinnie Siu and Tom Daly; Editing by Edmund Blair and Jonathan Oatis

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Thai royalist turns protester as anti-government movement broadens

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BANGKOK, Sept 2 (Reuters) – Often seen at the wheel of one of his supercars, Thai ultra-royalist Tanat “Nat” Thanakitamnuay became a well-known face at demonstrations that ushered in Thailand’s 2014 coup.

Now he is back on the streets demanding the removal of coup leader Prayuth Chan-ocha as prime minister and reforms to the monarchy – a change of heart that points to the broadening of Thailand’s latest anti-government movement.

“It’s bad for your mental health to see an incompetent PM,” said Nat, 29, who was blinded permanently in his right eye last month after being hit by a teargas canister at a protest.

He switched sides in part because of anger over the government’s widely-criticised handling of the latest coronavirus outbreak, which has brought severe economic hardship as well as nearly 12,000 deaths.

That has given new life to a student-led protest movement that emerged last year with demands to limit the powers of King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s monarchy and remove Prayuth, a former army chief who seized power in 2014 after months of protests against the elected government of Yingluck Shinawatra.

After a lull due to coronavirus restrictions on gatherings, demonstrations against Prayuth have gathered renewed steam in recent weeks.

“The protests have broadened due to COVID-19 and its economic consequences,” Titipol Phakdeewanich, dean of Ubon Ratchathani University’s political science faculty, told Reuters. “That prompted a more diverse group of people to join.”

Defending the government’s handling of the pandemic, Anucha Burapachaisri, deputy secretary to the prime minister, told Reuters that all necessary measures to contain the spread of infections had been taken.

But a recent poll said fewer than 30% of people thought they could rely on the government of Prayuth, who rejects the accusations of opponents that he manipulated a 2019 election to keep power he had taken by force.

“Everybody suffers from the lack of democracy, regardless of how much their income changes,” said Nat.

Tanat “Nat” Thanakitamnuay, 29, known as “Hi-so Luk Nat”, who was blinded in the right eye during clashes with riot police, participates in a protest over the government’s handling of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and demanding Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s resignation, in Bangkok, Thailand, August 28, 2021. Picture taken August 28, 2021. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

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‘HISO’

Income is not a problem for Nat, a member of a Thai elite widely known as “HiSo” (High Society).

The son of a real-estate billionaire, he was educated at a British private school and has enjoyed a playboy lifestyle with his supercars, celebrity dates and his own rock band.

He said he had now cut himself off from his family, while dabbling in the stock market and cryptocurrencies.

His appearance at protests is very different to that of the youth activists as he drives in his Range Rover along with a bodyguard and a secretary.

“It shocked us initially, but we thought that him joining us was very useful because it paved the way for others,” student activist Songpon “Yajai” Sonthirak told Reuters. “It shows how people can reform themselves and how we are inclusive.”

Nat said his time as a politician with the pro-establishment Democrat Party had made him suspicious of all those proclaiming loyalty to the monarchy.

He has joined calls for the removal of the lese majeste law outlawing criticism of the king, which can mean 15 years in jail and has been used against most of the youth protest leaders.

After losing his eye, Nat sports a black eyepatch marked with three white dashes representing the “Hunger Games” salute adopted by pro-democracy campaigners.

“We have to do whatever we can, whatever it takes,” he told Reuters. “If it will cost me another eye then so be it.”

Additional reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by Matthew Tostevin and Alex Richardson

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Thai police clash with protesters as thousands hold anti-government rally

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BANGKOK, Aug 10 (Reuters) – Police in Thailand fired tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets to disperse protesters who took to the streets of Bangkok on Tuesday amid anger over the handling of the coronavirus pandemic by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s government.

At least six police officers were injured during the clashes, with one officer shot in the leg and three others hit by shrapnel from a homemade bomb, police said.

The number of injured protesters was not known. At least six protesters were arrested, the police said after earlier warning that all public gatherings were illegal under COVID-19 emergency rules.

Two police booths were also set on fire as sporadic violence continued into the night.

“The action of protesters shows intent to damage government property and the public as well as to hurt police officers,” Piya Tavicha, deputy head of the Bangkok police, told reporters.

The clashes broke out after thousands of protesters drove in a convoy of cars and motorcycles through the capital.

They stopped at several buildings linked to cabinet members or supporters of Prayuth to make speeches and call for resignations, accusing the government of mismanaging the pandemic and abusing its power to silence critics.

A police officer fires tear gas as demonstrators protest against the government’s handling of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Bangkok, Thailand, August 10, 2021. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

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“The government lacks the ability to manage the country, and only see the interests of the elite,” Benja Apan, a student activist, said in a statement read out from the top of a truck in Bangkok’s business district.

“If the situation remains like this then we can expect the country to face an unsurvivable disaster,” she said.

Hospitals have been pushed to the brink by the latest wave of cases and Thailand reported on Tuesday a daily record COVID-19 death toll of 235 – nearly four times as many as in the whole of last year. Thailand’s total death toll since the pandemic started is 6,588.

Thailand’s youth-led protest movement appears to be regaining momentum after demonstrations last year attracted hundreds of thousands of people before a crackdown by authorities.

The protesters have also broken traditional taboos by demanding reform of the monarchy, risking prosecution under a lese majeste law that make insulting or defaming the king, queen, heir and regent punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Last weekend, more than a thousand anti-government protesters clashed with police. read more

Protest leaders who had spent time in jail over previous demonstrations and been released on bail have gone back into custody in recent days including Panupong “Mike Rayong” Jadnok, Jatupat “Pai” Boonpattararaksa and Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak.

Human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa also faced new lese majeste and other charges for a speech he made last week. read more

Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um, Panarat Thepgumpanat and Jiraporn Kuhakan
Editing by Ed Davies and Angus MacSwan

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Anti-military protests in Myanmar on anniversary of 1988 uprising

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Aug 8 (Reuters) – Protests against Myanmar’s military government broke out across the nation on Sunday, the anniversary of the bloody suppression of a 1988 uprising against a previous army junta.

At least six separate protests were documented on Facebook pages of opponents of the military, which seized power from the elected government six months ago and detained its leader, Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, and several other key officials.

The Feb. 1 coup ended a brief, decade-long experiment in democracy in the Southeast Asian nation of 53 million, shattering hopes that it would emerge from more than half a century of military rule.

The new government led by Min Aung Hlaing, the military’s most senior general who assumed the post of interim prime minister a week ago, says it acted within the constitution to remove Suu Kyi’s government after disputing the election her party won, though the election commission said the vote was fair.

Many of Sunday’s protests made reference to the “8-8-88” democracy uprising on August, 8, 1988, which the then-military regime crushed. Opponents of the military say an estimated 3,000 people were killed during that crackdown.

“The old debt from 88, we must get it all in this 21,” chanted protesters in Wundwin township in Mandalay region, recorded on Facebook videos.

Another anti-protest in Myaing township featured placards reading: “Let’s struggle together toward the unfinished 8.8.88 people’s liberation.”

A military government spokesman could not be reached on Sunday for comment on the protests.

The 1988 uprising was at the time the biggest challenge to army rule that had last since 1962.

Min Aung Hlaing on Sunday released a statement praising another anniversary – the founding of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 54 years ago.

The statement did not mention the special ASEAN envoy ton Myanmar that the 10-member regional bloc appointed in recent days, who has been tasked with ending post-coup violence and fostering talks between the military and its opponents.

The new envoy, Brunei diplomat Erywan Yusof, said on Saturday he should be given full access to all parties when he visits Myanmar, a trip that has not yet been scheduled.

Reporting by Reuters staff. Writing by Kay Johnson; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore

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Thai anti-govt protesters clash with police in Bangkok

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BANGKOK, Aug 7 (Reuters) – More than a thousand Thai anti-government protesters clashed with police on Saturday, as they demonstrated against the government’s failure to handle coronavirus outbreaks and its impact on the economy.

About a hundred police officers in riot gear sealed off a road near Victory Monument in the capital Bangkok with containers and used water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets to stop a march toward Government House, the office of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

“Tear gas and rubber bullets were used for crowd control. Our goal is to maintain order,” Krisana Pattanacharoen, a police spokesman, told reporters.

The demonstrators threw ping pong bombs, stones and marbles, he added.

Dozens of protesters were seen being carried away on motorcycles and in ambulances. The Erawan Emergency Medical Centre said at least two civilians and three officers had been injured.

Demonstrators react to tear gas during a clash with police at a protest against what they call the government’s failure in handling the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Bangkok, Thailand, August 7, 2021. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

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“We want Prayuth to resign because people aren’t getting vaccines,” said a 23-year-old male protester, who only gave his first name “Aom”, for fear of repercussions.

“We don’t have jobs and income, so we have no choice but protest.”

Some 6% of Thailand’s population of more than 66 million has been fully vaccinated and most of the country including Bangkok is under lockdown with a night-time curfew. Gatherings of more than five people are currently banned.

Nonetheless, street protests against the government have been held in recent weeks by several groups, including Prayuth’s former political allies, as frustrations mount over its management of the health crisis. read more

Thailand reported on Saturday a record of nearly 22,000 new COVID-19 infections in a single day and the highest deaths, 212 fatalities.

The Southeast Asian country has reported 736,522 total cases and 6,066 deaths from the coronavirus since the pandemic began last year.

Additional reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by Jacqueline Wong, Kirsten Donovan

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Delta variant rampant in Asia; Tokyo, Thailand, Malaysia post record COVID infections

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July 31 (Reuters) – The Olympics host city Tokyo, as well as Thailand and Malaysia, announced record COVID-19 infections on Saturday, mostly driven by the highly transmissible Delta variant of the disease.

Cases surged in Sydney as well, where police cordoned off the central business district to prevent a protest against a strict lockdown that will last until the end of August.

Police in Sydney closed train stations, banned taxis from dropping passengers off downtown and deployed 1,000 officers to set up checkpoints and to disperse groups.

The government of New South Wales reported 210 new infections in Sydney and surrounding areas from the Delta variant outbreak. read more

Tokyo’s metropolitan government announced a record number of 4,058 infections in the past 24 hours. Olympics organisers reported 21 new COVID-19 cases related to the Games, bringing the total to 241 since July 1.

A day earlier Japan extended its state of emergency for Tokyo to the end of August and expanded it to three prefectures near Tokyo and to the western prefecture of Osaka.

Olympics organisers said on Saturday they had revoked accreditation of a Games-related person or people for leaving the athletes’ village for sightseeing, a violation of measures imposed to hold the Olympics safely amid the pandemic.

The organisers did not disclose how many people were involved, if the person or people were athletes, or when the violation took place. read more

Malaysia, one of the hotspots of the disease, reported 17,786 coronavirus cases on Saturday, a record high.

More than 100 people gathered in the centre of the capital Kuala Lumpur, expressing dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the pandemic and calling on Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to quit.

Protesters carried black flags and held up placards that read “Kerajaan Gagal” (failed government) – a hashtag that has been popular on social media for months.

Thailand also reported a daily record high of 18,912 new coronavirus infections, bringing its total cases to 597,287. The country also reported 178 new deaths, also a daily record, taking total fatalities to 4,857.

The government said the Delta variant accounted for more than 60% of the cases in the country and 80% of the cases in Bangkok.

The Delta variant is not necessarily more lethal than other variants, but much more transmissible, Supakit Sirilak, the director-general of Thailand’s Department of Medical Sciences, told Reuters.

China is battling an outbreak of the Delta variant in the eastern city of Nanjing which has been traced to airport workers who cleaned a plane which had arrived from Russia. read more

Nanjing has reported 190 locally transmitted cases of the Delta variant since July 20, while there has been a total of 262 cases across the country, figures released on Saturday showed.

Vietnam, which is grappling with its worst COVID-19 outbreak, on Saturday also announced tougher measures, saying from Monday it would impose strict curbs on movement in 19 cities and provinces throughout the southern part of the country for another two weeks.

COVID-19 infections have increased by 80% over the past four weeks in most regions of the world, WHO Director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday.

“Hard-won gains are in jeopardy or being lost, and health systems in many countries are being overwhelmed,” Tedros told a news conference. read more

The Delta variant, first detected in India, is as contagious as chickenpox and far more contagious than the common cold or flu, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control said in an internal document reported this week. read more

It can be passed on even by vaccinated people and may cause more serious disease than earlier coronavirus strains, the CDC document said.

Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat, Chayut Setboonsarng and Orathai Sriring in Bangkok, A. Ananthalakshmi in Kuala Lumpur, Lidia Kelly in Sydney, Makiko Yamazaki in Tokyo, Yew Lun Tian in Beijing; Writing by Raju Gopalakrishnan; editing by Gerry Doyle and Jason Neely

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Overseas tourists finally roam free on Thai island of Phuket

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PHUKET, Thailand, July 3 (Reuters) – Newly arrived overseas tourists on Thailand’s island of Phuket were able to roam free without quarantine on Friday for the first time in more than a year, as Thailand launched a special programme for vaccinated visitors to the island.

Tourists swam in hotel pools and walked along Phuket’s postcard-perfect beaches after receiving a COVID-19 test result within 24 hours of arrival.

“This is the perfect place to just relax and clean our minds, our heads, after a long time,” said Sigal Baram, lying by the pool, who was visiting from Israel with her husband and friends. The group was among the first to arrive in the country.

The ‘Phuket Sandbox’ initiative allows free movement on the island for fully vaccinated tourists, with no quarantine required, although masks are required in most public places.

While five-star hotels and restaurants welcomed back tourists, local street vendors said they were not benefiting from the plan, because tourists frequent mostly large hotels.

The Kalmar family, tourists from Israel, enjoy in a pool as Phuket reopens to overseas tourists, allowing foreigners fully vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to visit the resort island without quarantine, in Phuket, Thailand July 2, 2021. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

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“There is no way street vendors will get the money from overseas tourists… it will go to hotels and restaurants instead,” said Yupin Papor, a massage therapist who lost her job during the pandemic and became a street vendor selling food on the beach.

Thailand lost about $50 billion in tourism revenue last year, when foreign arrivals plunged 83%.

Phuket was hit particularly hard by job losses and business closures.

“I see the shops closed. It’s a big difference to me from before,” said Omar Alraeesi from United Arab Emirates, who comes to Phuket every year.

Millions of people visited Phuket every year before the pandemic and the government and tourism industry hope the reopening will help save its battered economy.

Additional reporting by Jorge Silva and Artorn Pookasook, Editing by Rosalba O’Brien

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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