Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachai Panitchpakdi announced a bilateral discussion with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng on May 23, 2025, during the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting in Suzhou, China, aimed at elevating economic and trade cooperation between the two nations. Thailand-China relations have strengthened significantly, particularly marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties last year and following the formal royal visit by the Thai King and Queen in November 2024, which the Thai side appreciated along with warm welcomes from President Xi Jinping and the Chinese people.

Thailand commended China's latest national economic and social development plan, which emphasizes digital economy and green economy for high-quality development through technology and innovation—aligning with Thailand's goal to increase product value and enhance national competitiveness. Supachai proposed a pilot cooperation project to upgrade Thai products to premium-quality goods for the Chinese market, leveraging Thailand's agricultural resources combined with Chinese technology and innovation. Functional foods and age-friendly products were suggested as pilot categories, matching China's silver economy initiative and strengthening Thailand's food security role.

Thailand also requested China support Chinese investors in using more Thai resources in production, creating mutual benefit opportunities for manufacturing and investment cooperation with global export potential. The country emphasized promoting SME roles and proposed raising standards and inspection procedures for both sides' products to prevent negative impacts on Thai SMEs while enabling Thai SME products to access the Chinese market. Thailand sought Chinese support in establishing a "Thai National Pavilion" on major Chinese online platforms to expand market access.

Supachai stated that Thailand's proposals addressed both sides' interests, with the Chinese vice premier agreeing to establish a working group to implement the discussed points and report to the Thailand-China joint trade, investment, and economic cooperation committee. Both nations agreed to schedule follow-up meetings.

On May 23, 2026, Pol. Lt. Gen. Tha Wi Sodsong, advisor to the Law, Justice, and Human Rights Committee (former Justice Minister, Prachathai Party leader, and list MP), along with Kamlasak Liwamaulo, Narathiwat MP for District 5 from the Prachathai Party serving as commissioner of the committee on debt, poverty, and inequality reduction, inspected the new Narathiwat Airport terminal project in Nong Chik District, Mueang Narathiwat. The mega-project is being developed by CIS Joint Venture, partnering with a Chinese contractor.

The new passenger terminal's architectural structure is taking clear shape, featuring spacious hallways, large structural columns, and wooden ceiling finishing that reveals the building's beauty. Construction is progressing steadily with robust safety measures in place.

Pol. Lt. Gen. Tha Wi emphasized that monitoring this mega-project is not merely about tracking concrete and steel progress, but fundamentally about "hope and opportunity for the people." He views the new airport as crucial to "reducing inequality and solving poverty problems" in the southern border region. An internationally-standard airport will reduce travel costs and time for residents while supporting business, education, tourism, and Hajj pilgrimages for Thai Muslims.

However, Kamlasak raised a critical concern: the real challenge is not construction delays, but ensuring "international airlines will actually operate flights." The new terminal was designed to accommodate international routes, so the government must urgently secure airline partnerships, particularly with Malaysia. Without operational flights, the massive investment could become inefficient.

Progress reports show the overall project is 78-79 percent complete, with the main contractor confirming all architectural and structural work will finish by September 2026. Completed work includes the service building and parking lot (100 percent) and landscape improvements (100 percent).

Thailand's men's sepaktakraw team withdrew during their final match against Malaysia at the ISTAF Sepaktakraw World Cup 2026 at Titiwangsa Stadium in Malaysia, citing unfair officiating by referee Muhammad Radi across multiple sequences. The controversy centered on the final point in the third match, where a Thai player was called for a foot line violation despite this foul no longer existing in sepaktakraw rules.

Team manager Uayachai Srisuwan explained the disputed sequence: The referee initially called "over," which Thailand challenged. Video review showed it was not over, and the court official held up a "Not Over" sign—meaning the point should have gone to Thailand. However, Radi then reversed his decision, claiming a line fault instead, despite rules no longer prohibiting foot line violations and the player's heel not crossing the center line. This gave the point to Malaysia at 14-14.

Srisuwan further stated: "I consulted with Thai referees—to be over, the entire foot must cross the line, but the heel hadn't crossed. When he didn't call it over, he suddenly called it a line fault. He wouldn't accept 14-14 or allow a replay. We couldn't accept this. What kind of crazy rule allows replays?" The incident prompted Thailand's decision to withdraw from the competition.

UDON THANI — 23 May 2026, A heavily intoxicated Buddhist monk caused a disturbance near a shopping centre in Udon Thani on the eve of Wan Kon, allegedly attempting to enter a popular shabu buffet restaurant and later a nearby bar before challenging police officers to a fight.

A 55-year-old shopping centre security guard said he first saw the monk arrive by motorised tricycle at the railway station before later emerging in an extremely intoxicated state carrying belongings and smelling strongly of alcohol.

The guard said the monk initially asked whether anyone had seen his mother before attempting to enter a shabu restaurant. Security staff stopped him, telling him it was inappropriate. The monk then allegedly walked toward a nearby bar and attempted to enter before staff removed him from the premises and contacted police.

Police said the monk, identified as 60-year-old Phra Samorn Kusumo of the Dhammayut sect, had been ordained for more than 20 years at Wat Pa Lelai in Nong Bua Lamphu province.

Officers from Muang Udon Thani Police Station were called to the area behind a major shopping centre on Thong Yai Road at about 20:00 on Friday after reports of an intoxicated monk behaving aggressively near restaurants and bars about 300 metres from Udon Thani railway station.

When police arrived, security guards had already restrained the monk near the entrance of a bar. He was reportedly wearing only a shoulder cloth and saffron lower robe with flip-flops, and was heavily intoxicated, staggering, incoherent and shouting abuse at bystanders.

According to police, the monk claimed he had been drinking white liquor and insisted he could drink wherever he wanted because it was "not against the constitution." He allegedly continued rambling about politicians and the drafting of laws.

Police searched his belongings and found monk identification documents and a national ID card confirming his identity. Officers said he became agitated during questioning, insulted reporters and twice challenged police officers to fight, reportedly shouting in the Isaan dialect: "You want some?"

Authorities later loaded his belongings and monastic items from Udon Thani railway station onto a police pickup truck before transporting him for defrocking. During the journey, police said he attempted to jump from the vehicle, forcing officers to stop abruptly.

At one point, he allegedly grabbed a restraining pole used by police and tried to strike officers, leading to a struggle before police managed to handcuff him to the rear of the pickup truck, shocking passing motorists and pedestrians.

Police subsequently took him to Wat Phothisomphon, a royal temple in Udon Thani, where senior monk Phra Khun Sutthipanyawat, deputy ecclesiastical governor of the province, formally conducted the defrocking ceremony.

Even after leaving the monkhood, Samorn reportedly remained disoriented and intoxicated, telling authorities he did not know where he was going or where he had come from. He admitted to the charges.

The Permanent Secretary of the Interior Ministry has notified all 76 provinces nationwide, inviting all sectors to participate in activities commemorating the auspicious occasion of Her Majesty the Queen's 4th Cycle Birthday Anniversary on June 3, 2026.

On May 23, 2025, Artsit Samphantharat, Permanent Secretary of the Interior Ministry, revealed that the organizing committee for the celebrations has approved activities to take place centrally, regionally, and internationally, with the Interior Ministry coordinating regional participation.

The Permanent Secretary stated that to ensure the celebration activities proceed smoothly and appropriately, the Interior Ministry has notified provinces, districts, and coordinated with local government organizations to jointly organize commemorative activities. All sectors in the area are invited to participate, with agencies able to schedule suitable activities between March 1 and December 31, 2026.

Regional celebration activities in June 2026 will constitute the auspicious occasion month, running from June 1-30, 2026, and will include: 1) Setting up tables displaying Her Majesty the Queen's portrait with royal offering items at provincial facilities, and 2) Decorating locations with Her Majesty's portrait, Thai national flags, royal insignia flags, white fabric, and illuminating office buildings.

Ceremonial activities will be held on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at the provincial hall or suitable venue (coordinated with the central ceremony), presided over by the provincial governor. The schedule includes: 1) 7:00 AM - Buddhist chanting and alms-giving ceremony to dedicate merit, 2) 5:30 PM - Royal tribute and flower offering ceremony, and 3) 7:29 PM - Candle-lighting ceremony to offer blessings.

Public participation will include composing messages of goodwill and sharing images of royal activities on provincial websites and social media between June 1-15, 2026. Signature tables for goodwill messages will be set up at provincial halls, district offices, local government organizations, and suitable locations, as well as on provincial and departmental websites. Volunteer activities for public welfare and charitable work related to the Queen's 4th Cycle Birthday Anniversary are also encouraged.

For details, people can contact their provincial, district, or local government organization's public relations office to participate in activities with unity and solidarity, thereby benefiting the area and demonstrating loyalty and reverence to the nation's core institutions, particularly the Royal Institution, which serves as the foundation and center of unity for all Thai people.

On May 24, 2569, Deputy Commander Chatchapan Klaiyaklung of the Technology Crime Investigation Division announced the cyber police's response to a live sexual broadcast on Facebook containing obscene material that surfaced the previous night. Cyber police learned of the incident after their social media monitoring team detected the clip and reported it to commanders, who ordered the Technology Crime Investigation Unit to examine the URL and identify the individuals involved. Authorities stated that if the page owner or people in the clip are Thai nationals or residing in Thailand, they will be prosecuted under the Computer Crime Act for uploading obscene material, with maximum severity. The cyber police will also coordinate with Facebook Thailand to investigate why the platform's community standards failed to detect and immediately remove the obscene sexual content, which spread to millions of viewers. Deputy Commander Klaiyaklung emphasized that such content is considered garbage that may inspire imitation, especially among children and youth, and warned the public not to create or share such material as it violates the Computer Crime Act Sections 14(1) and 14(4), carrying penalties of up to 5 years imprisonment, a fine not exceeding 100,000 baht, or both. Importantly, those who like or share such clips face identical penalties as the original poster under Computer Crime Act Section 14(5), which covers anyone who distributes computer data they know to be false or obscene. The deputy commander urged the public to report any such content immediately to the cyber police hotline at 1441.