Beijing ‘must okay evacuation’
Air force commander ACM Manat Wongwat yesterday moved to dispel confusion surrounding the use of military transport aircraft to evacuate Thai nationals from other countries, saying such operations require clearance first.
His remarks came after Paethongtan Shinawatra, the youngest daughter of former prime minister Thaksin, posted on social media a 2003 news report related to the planned evacuation of Thai nationals from Cambodia in the wake of the Phnom Penh riots.
She posted this report by way of contrast, as the government comes under criticism for being slow in evacuating Thais from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the centre of the novel coronavirus outbreak.
The report featured Thaksin’s photo and his quote saying he had asked his Cambodian counterpart to protect the Thais taking refuge and that C-130 planes will take them back home.
ACM Manat, meanwhile, said C-130 planes can be sent to evacuate Thais in case of an emergency, but Thai authorities will have to secure permission from the other country first. He added that ground service support, like fuel and maintenance, are also significant factors in the decision.
As for the planes being sent to Phnom Penh in 2003, he said: “The two incidents can’t be compared. In the case of the Cambodian riot, we obtained permission to evacuate Thais.
“But China, which is dealing with the virus outbreak, has security concerns as several countries want to evacuate their people. So Chinese authorities have to be careful and thorough,” he said.
The government said on Wednesday that a chartered flight with medical staff will be sent to bring Thai expats home as soon as it gets a go-ahead from Beijing. No word was to hand on when it might come.