Thailand Downplays US Blacklist Impact on Former Finance Official
Thailand's deputy PM dismissed concerns about a US proposal to blacklist former Finance Minister Vorapak Thanyawongse, calling it a personal matter that won't affect the country's credibility. The US House committee recommended sanctions ag
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Siharat Pongphatrakit said on September 18 at Government House that a US proposal to blacklist former Finance Minister Vorapak Thanyawongse will not damage Thailand's credibility because it is a personal matter. The US House Foreign Affairs Committee has recommended that the State Department and Treasury Department investigate and impose sanctions on 28 individuals and two companies linked to online scamming networks operating in Southeast Asia, with Vorapak on the list. When asked whether Thailand's Foreign Ministry felt awkward having to clarify the situation, Siharat said there was no discomfort. He reiterated that the government already prioritizes tackling online scamming operations as a core policy.
