Governor of Prachin Buri revokes Chinese consultant's scheduled role
In a twist of events, Prachin Buri's governor, Weerapun Dee-on, recently axed the appointment of Chinese advisor Zhu Juncheng after facing public scrutiny and criticism from Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
Weerapun, in a televised address on Wednesday, divulged that the appointment was intended to help Prachin Buri secure a spot within Thailand's Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) investment zone. At present, the EEC encompasses provinces like Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, and Rayong.
He explained that Prachin Buri's Chamber of Commerce had caringly recommended Mr. Zhu for the advisory position. Upon a thorough background check, it was discovered that Mr. Zhu had a squeaky clean record, making him deservingly honored to contribute his skills to the project. Weerapun asserted that he had no personal connections with Mr. Zhu prior to the appointment.
Weerapun revealed that Mr. Zhu's responsibilities were to interact with investors and propel Prachin Buri's staggering ~300 billion baht investment portfolio, primarily funded by Chinese and Taiwanese investors.
Anutin, on the other hand, dubbed the appointment as not only questionable but also expressed regret over the online distress it caused. The appointment of Mr. Zhu, which occurred on April 21, 2025, was brought to the forefront on Tuesday via the popular CSI LA Facebook page, a sleuthing hub boasting 1.3 million followers.
The page moderator posed questions about the potential overemphasis on foreign interests when it came to local decision-making and the degree of foreign influence this advisor might wield.
Anutin, in response, acknowledged that if any hidden agendas were present, the placement wouldn't have been public. However, in the name of fairness, he claimed the issue stemmed from the appropriateness of the situation.
With pressure mounting from both public opinion and Anutin's intervention, Weerapun rescinded Zhu's appointment on May 1, 2025. Anutin then issued a public apology, acknowledging the concerns raised online.
This incident underscores the ongoing tension between Thailand's economic goals, achieved through foreign investment, and the sensitivities surrounding foreign interference in policy decision-making.
- Weerapun Dee-on, the governor of Prachin Buri, had appointed Chinese advisor Zhu Juncheng to help secure a spot within Thailand's Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) investment zone.
- The appointment of Zhu, primarily funded by Chinese and Taiwanese investors, was intended for him to interact with investors and propel Prachin Buri's significant investment portfolio, amounting to approximately ~300 billion baht.
- Anutin Charnvirakul, Thailand's Interior Minister, reacted to the appointment by expressing concerns over potential foreign influence and the appropriateness of the situation.
- As a result of public scrutiny and pressure from Anutin's intervention, Weerapun Dee-on rescinded Zhu's appointment on May 1, 2025, emphasizing the ongoing tension between Thailand's economic goals and the sensitivities surrounding foreign interference in policy decision-making.
