BANGKOK — Thailand and China have agreed to strengthen defense cooperation, with talks focusing on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, defense industry collaboration and efforts to resolve the Thai-Cambodian border issue through peaceful dialogue.

Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Adul Boonthamcharoen met Chinese Defense Minister Adm. Dong Jun on Friday during the latter's official visit to Thailand.

According to the Defense Ministry, the two sides discussed expanding their comprehensive strategic partnership, including responsible AI, cybersecurity, military technology and closer cooperation against transnational crime. They also reaffirmed support for resolving the Thai-Cambodian border issue through bilateral mechanisms and peaceful negotiations.

After the meeting, Adul said Dong had pledged China's support for Thailand while stressing Beijing would remain neutral because both Thailand and Cambodia are "good friends of China." Adul said China is looking to expand military cooperation with Thailand beyond defense equipment to include training, technology and AI, but denied reports that Beijing had offered to mediate the Thai-Cambodian border dispute. "He did not say that," Adul said.

On July 24, 2025, at the Central Investigation Police Division's complaint center, Prommmasad Kritthayavir, 47, founder of Sri Maha Kali Temple (Thung Dok Krajiao Temple, Thep Sathit District, Chaiyaphum Province), filed a formal complaint with police and gave interviews to media regarding suspected police misconduct in a theft case involving an electrical transformer, meter, and high-voltage power pole. He is requesting an investigation into whether the investigators and the Thep Sathit Police Station commander violated Section 157 of the Criminal Code through negligence or improper conduct.

According to Prommmasad's account, on April 22, 2025, while he was away, approximately 5-6 men with a large crane forcibly removed the transformer, meter, and high-voltage pole from the temple and fled. When questioned, they claimed to be acting under orders to remove and sell the equipment. The incident caused damage estimated at no less than 260,000 baht and posed danger to passing traffic.

Prommmasad alleged that police made no progress on the case, claiming the transformer had already been sold and could not be recovered. For three months, the temple had no electricity. Finally, on July 3, 2025, he paid an additional 380,000 baht to purchase a new transformer set. However, just three days later, on July 6, the investigating officer informed him that the crane company had voluntarily returned the power pole to Thep Sathit Police Station as a gesture of good faith—but without the transformer, the essential component.

"For three months, the temple had no power. Police said they couldn't recover the equipment because it was already sold, so I had to struggle to buy new equipment. But after only three days of having the new transformer, police suddenly said the crane company brought back the pole out of good faith. If they were truly acting in good faith, why didn't they return everything from the start? Why did they let me waste money buying replacements?" Prommmasad stated, adding that he has submitted all evidence to the police for investigation into potential Section 157 violations.

Investigating officer Chakking Tangthim Saphan Mai echoed concerns about the suspicious work practices at Thep Sathit Station, questioning why there was no urgency in pursuing and recovering the seized goods over several months, yet suddenly the crane company voluntarily returned the pole just three days after the victim purchased new equipment. He also questioned the true whereabouts of the transformer allegedly sold and who benefited from the victim's additional losses.

Central Investigation Police Division investigators are currently gathering witness statements and evidence to proceed with legal action.

A 31-year-old woman, identified as Ms. A (pseudonym), filed a report with investigators at Chana Songkhram Police Station after being chased by two Cambodian men to her home and having them attempt to force her door open. The incident occurred on July 21 around 11 p.m.

Ms. A recounted that while returning home after drinking with friends—an area she had lived in for over 30 years—she spotted two men standing by a wall. Initially thinking they were acquaintances, she quickened her pace, clutching her bag and recording on her phone. When they asked her to join them for beer, she declined. Seconds later, the man in the red shirt charged toward her, prompting her to run inside and lock the door. He attempted to pry open the door's window grill, causing her to scream in alarm. She shouted that she would call police before running upstairs.

CCTV footage revealed that after initially leaving, the man returned while the victim was calling police, and both suspects attempted to force the door again. Following her social media post, community member "Mr. Bang Talad Indie," a relative, organized neighbors to track down the suspects. By the evening of July 23, they apprehended the man in white at a boarding house and subsequently located and arrested both men.

During detention, the suspect apologized by placing his hands together, but Ms. A responded coldly, reminding him she had warned him not to act that way. She remains traumatized, crying nightly and unable to sleep at home, having relocated temporarily. She intends to pursue the case to its conclusion and does not wish to see the men again.

Miss Sinh Sinh, 23, girlfriend of Mr. Chanvesna Touch, 24 (the suspect in the red shirt), visited him at the police station with snacks and drinks. She stated they have been together for 8 years and have a 10-month-old daughter. She learned of his arrest when many community members came looking for him at his workplace, leading to minor physical altercation. After reviewing the incident footage, she acknowledged her boyfriend acted wrongly but believed the matter should be handled by police rather than vigilante violence.

The suspect claimed he was intoxicated after consuming approximately 7 beers with Cambodian friends and merely complimented the woman's appearance before following her. He denied harming or touching her and said he returned to apologize out of concern that he had frightened her. The man in white, he claimed, simply walked along without instigating anything.

The suspect's girlfriend apologized to the victim, asserting she did not take her boyfriend's side because she is also a woman and would feel equally terrified in such a situation. She reiterated that her boyfriend claimed he only intended to flirt, having been struck by the woman's appearance.

PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited (GC), a leader in international chemical products and the core chemical business of the PTT Group, is preparing to issue and offer unsecured, unguaranteed bonds with bondholder representatives to the general public. The bonds will be divided into two series: a 7-year maturity bond and a 10-year maturity bond, with the issuer retaining the right to redeem early. Subscription is expected to open between September 14–21, 2026, through six major banks: Bangkok Bank, Krung Thai Bank, Bank of Ayudhya, Kasikornbank, Siam Commercial Bank, and CIMB Thai Bank. Priority subscription rights will be allocated to existing bondholders, senior citizens, and retail investors to broaden the investor base and support GC's long-term capital management plan.

The company plans to use the proceeds as working capital for operations and debt repayment to enhance financial flexibility and strengthen its financial structure, enabling it to weather energy price volatility amid global economic conditions and geopolitical factors. GC will maintain financial discipline while advancing toward high-value, low-carbon business segments to achieve sustainable long-term growth.

Titipong Julphornsiridi, Senior Executive Vice President of Finance and Accounting at GC, stated: "This bond issuance marks our return to unsecured, unguaranteed bonds with bondholder representatives for the first time in four years, following subordinated bonds with capital-like characteristics issued in 2024 and 2025, which received strong investor reception. This reflects investor confidence in GC's potential as the core chemical business of the PTT Group. GC remains committed to financial discipline and systematic capital management aligned with our Portfolio Transformation strategy, positioning the company for steady and sustainable growth in the high-value, low-carbon business segment."

The bonds being offered are unsecured, unguaranteed bonds with bondholder representatives, with the issuer retaining early redemption rights. They are divided into two series: Series 1, a 7-year maturity bond with an interest rate between 2.65–2.80% per annum, and Series 2, a 10-year maturity bond with an interest rate between 3.00–3.15% per annum. The company will announce final interest rates at a later date.

The company is opening the offering to diverse investor groups in three phases: Phase 1 (September 14–15, 2026) for existing PTTGC296A bondholders; Phase 2 (September 16–17, 2026) for senior citizens (individuals aged 60 or older, or turning 60 in 2026, meaning those born on or before December 31, 1909); and Phase 3 (September 18 and 21, 2026) for retail investors. Interested investors can subscribe through bank branches and online channels via the managing underwriters.

The managing underwriters added: "GC's return to issuing unsecured, unguarantee bonds after four years will grant existing PTTGC296A bondholders priority subscription rights in Phase 1. Phase 2 targets senior citizens, a group GC has consistently valued, offering them a meaningful investment option."

The US Section 301 tariff measure poses an initial risk exceeding 1.02 trillion baht in Thai goods, reducing overall export growth projections from 8% to 6-7%. Experts are urging expedited action on exemption lists.

Independent economist Atthapol Pisalwanit, a specialist in international and ASEAN economics, revealed that starting July 24, 2025, the United States began collecting an additional 12.5% import tariff on Thai goods under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act, following the end of a temporary 10% tariff under Section 122.

The US Trade Representative Office (USTR) justified the action by arguing that Thailand lacks and does not effectively enforce bans on goods produced wholly or partially using forced labor. This allows forced-labor products to enter the US market and supply chains, putting compliant manufacturers at a cost disadvantage.

A separate Section 301 investigation into excess industrial capacity remains ongoing but is not the basis for the current 12.5% tariff and could trigger additional measures in the future.

Pisalwanit identified 11 major product groups at risk, encompassing nearly all Thai exports to the US except USTR-designated exemptions. At-risk categories include electrical appliances and electronics, machinery, rubber products, plastics, processed foods, seafood, rice and rice products, textiles and apparel, furniture, gems, and jewelry. Specific items range from air conditioners, refrigerators, and washing machines to computer storage devices, industrial machinery, vehicle tires, rubber gloves, canned foods, shrimp, tuna, jasmine rice, clothing, footwear, furniture, and refined precious metals and gems. Individual tariff codes must be verified for exemption status.

Exempted goods include essential items and certain raw materials, civil aircraft and parts, pharmaceuticals-related goods, products under Section 232 tariffs (steel, aluminum, copper, vehicles and parts), certain wood products, and some semiconductors. Also exempt are goods that departed their origin port before 12:01 am on July 24, 2025, and cleared US customs before 12:01 am on July 28, 2025, as well as humanitarian donations, media materials, and personal effects in travelers' baggage. However, these exemptions apply only to Section 301 tariffs; goods may still owe standard import duties, Section 232 tariffs, anti-dumping duties, or countervailing duties.

Based on 2024 export data, Thailand shipped approximately $72.212 billion in goods to the US annually. The 11 primary product groups potentially subject to Section 301 tariffs totaled about $58.57 billion yearly. For August–December 2025 (five months), the 11 at-risk groups are projected to export roughly $24.404 billion, or 829.742 billion baht—81.11% of all Thai goods expected to reach the US market in that period.