Xi warned Paetongtarn: drop casino bill or face consequences – Anutin

China’s President Xi Jinping urged Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to drop Pheu Thai’s flagship “casino bill”, or to expect negative repercussions on tourism and bilateral trade, former interior minister Anutin Charnvirakul has revealed.

Anutin claimed that Xi raised the issue during a high-level meeting in Beijing.

“The Chinese president made the suggestion to Paetongtarn on three separate occasions during the meeting, which I also attended as interior minister,” Anutin said, adding that he had taken detailed notes, because it involved his ministry.

Xi's statements were also included in the agreed minutes of the meeting.

“President Xi said directly that, if Thailand proceeds with this policy, China would be compelled to introduce countermeasures that would impact Chinese tourism, trade and investment in Thailand,” Anutin noted.

He argued that, while Beijing cannot dictate Thai policy, ignoring such explicit warnings is unwise, adding, “The Thai government’s indifference and its determination to push the bill forward, despite China’s repeated concerns, were bound to affect bilateral ties.”

He pointed to a sharp fall in Chinese tourist arrivals, which are down by more than 90%, as evidence of the consequences, claiming that this had inflicted severe damage on Thailand’s tourism sector, especially businesses reliant on Chinese customers.

“We’re talking about hoteliers, retailers, vendors, restaurants and the service industry at large, many of which are now struggling with debt and loss of livelihoods for the first time,” Anutin said.

Anutin’s revelation come shortly after he withdrew his Bhumjaithai Party from Paetongtarn’s coalition administration and after the Cabinet decided to drop the draft bill on the Integrated Entertainment Complex, widely known as the “casino bill”, from Parliament, citing the bill’s broad social implications, which required more time to instil public understanding.

Although the government moved to withdraw the bill from the House agenda, Anutin described the move as being "too late."

He argued that simply withdrawing the bill, without a clear commitment to permanently abandon the casino initiative, will do little to restore confidence or undo the economic damage already done.

Anutin appealed for the government to prioritise long-term economic partnerships, especially with China.

“If cancelling the bill would help revive Chinese tourism and investment, then that must come first. We must listen to the countries that have stood by us. Thailand and China are as close as brothers, let’s not forget that,” he concluded.