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Thai Chinese (also known as Chinese Thais, Sino-Thais), Thais of Chinese origin ( th, ชาวไทยเชื้อสายจีน; ''exonym and also domestically''), endonym Thai people ( th, ชาวไทย), are Chinese descendants in Thailand. Thai Chinese are the largest minority group in the country and the largest overseas Chinese community in the world with a population of approximately 7-10 million people, accounting for 11–14% of the total population of the country as of 2012. It is also the oldest and most prominent integrated overseas Chinese community. Slightly more than half of the ethnic Chinese population in Thailand trace their ancestry to
Chaoshan Chaoshan or Teoswa (; peng'im: ''Dio5suan1'' i̯o˥˥꜖꜖.sũ̯ã˧˧ is a cultural-linguistic region in the east of Guangdong, China. It is the origin of the Min Nan Chaoshan dialect (). The region, also known as Chiushan in Cantonese, cons ...
. This is evidenced by the prevalence of the Teochew dialect among the Chinese community in Thailand as well as other Chinese languages.The term as commonly understood signifies those whose ancestors immigrated to Thailand before 1949. The Thai Chinese have been deeply ingrained into all elements of Thai society over the past 200 years. The present Thai royal family, the
Chakri dynasty The Chakri dynasty ( th, ราชวงศ์ จักรี, , , ) is the current reigning dynasty of the Kingdom of Thailand, the head of the house is the king, who is head of state. The family has ruled Thailand since the founding of th ...
, was founded by King
Rama I Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok Maharaj (, 20 March 1737 – 7 September 1809), personal name Thongduang (), also known as Rama I, was the founder of the Rattanakosin Kingdom and the first monarch of the reigning Chakri dynasty of Siam (now Thai ...
who himself was partly Chinese. His predecessor, King
Taksin King Taksin the Great ( th, สมเด็จพระเจ้าตากสินมหาราช, , ) or the King of Thonburi ( th, สมเด็จพระเจ้ากรุงธนบุรี, ; ; Teochew: Dên Chao; April 17, ...
of the Thonburi Kingdom, was the son of a Chinese father from Chaoshan. With the successful integration of historic Chinese immigrant communities in Thailand, a significant number of Thai Chinese are the descendants of intermarriages between ethnic Chinese and native Thais. Many of these descendants have assimilated into Thai society and self-identify solely as Thai. Thai Chinese are a well-established middle class ethnic group and are well represented at all levels of Thai society. They play a leading role in Thailand's business sector and dominate the Thai economy today. In addition, Thai Chinese elites of Thailand have a strong presence in Thailand's political scene with most of Thailand's former Prime Ministers and the majority of parliament having at least some Chinese ancestry. Thai Chinese elites of Thailand are well represented among Thailand's rulers and other sectors.


Demographics

Thailand has the largest overseas Chinese community in the world outside Greater China. 11 to 14 percent of Thailand's population are considered ethnic Chinese. The Thai linguist Theraphan Luangthongkum claims the share of those having at least partial Chinese ancestry allegedly at about 40 percent of the Thai population without any proof.


Identity

For assimilated second and third generation descendants of Chinese immigrants, it is principally a personal choice whether or not to identify themselves as ethnic Chinese. Nonetheless, nearly all Thai Chinese solely self-identify as Thai, due to their close integration and successful assimilation into Thai society.
G. William Skinner George William Skinner (; February 14, 1925 – October 26, 2008) was an American anthropologist and scholar of China. Skinner was a proponent of the spatial approach to Chinese history, as explained in his Presidential Address to the Associati ...
observed that the level of assimilation of the descendants of Chinese immigrants in Thailand disproved the "myth about the 'unchanging Chinese'", noting that "''assimilation is considered complete when the immigrant's descendant identifies himself in almost all social situations as a Thai, speaks Thai language habitually and with native fluency, and interacts by choice with Thai more often than with Chinese.''" Skinner believed that the assimilation success of the Thai Chinese was a result of the wise policy of the Thai rulers who, since the 17th century, allowed able Chinese tradesmen to advance their ranks into the kingdom's nobility. The rapid and successful assimilation of the Thai Chinese has been celebrated by the Chinese descendants themselves, as evident in contemporary literature such as the novel ''Letters from Thailand'' ( th, จดหมายจากเมืองไทย) by Botan. Today, the Thai Chinese constitute a significant part of the royalist/nationalist movements. When the then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is Thai Chinese, was ousted from power in 2006, it was Sondhi Limthongkul, another prominent Thai Chinese businessman, who formed and led People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) movement to protest the successive governments run by Thaksin's allies. Mr. Sondhi accused Mr. Thaksin of corruption based on improper business ties between Thaksin's corporate empire and the Singapore-based Temasek Holdings Group. The Thai Chinese in and around Bangkok were also the main participants of the months-long political campaign against the government of Ms. Yingluck (Mr. Thaksin's sister), between November 2013 and May 2014, the event which culminated in the military takeover in May 2014.


History

Traders from China began arriving in Ayutthaya by at least the 13th century. In the 1420s, Chinese merchants were involved in the construction of the major Ayutthaya temple Wat Ratchaburana and left several Chinese inscriptions and cultural objects within the temple's crypt, including the inscribing of several Chinese family names. According to the ''Chronicles of Ayutthaya'', Ekathotsarot (r. 1605–1610) had been "concerned solely with ways of enriching his treasury," and was "greatly inclined toward strangers and foreign nations". Following the Qing revocation of the private trade ban in 1684, Chinese immigration to Siam steadily increased, particularly following the massive Southern Chinese famines of the early 18th century. Approximately 20,000 Chinese lived in Siam in the 1730s and were prominent in the city of Ayutthaya and were a prominent faction within the Siamese court by 1767. When King
Taksin King Taksin the Great ( th, สมเด็จพระเจ้าตากสินมหาราช, , ) or the King of Thonburi ( th, สมเด็จพระเจ้ากรุงธนบุรี, ; ; Teochew: Dên Chao; April 17, ...
, himself the son of a Chinese immigrant, ruled Thailand, King Taksin actively encouraged Chinese immigration and trade. Chinese settlers came to Siam in large numbers. Immigration continued over the following years, and the Chinese population in Thailand jumped from 230,000 in 1825 to 792,000 by 1910. By 1932, approximately 12.2 percent of the population of Thailand was Chinese. The early Chinese immigration consisted almost entirely of men who did not bring women. Therefore, it became common for male Chinese immigrants to marry local Thai women. The children of such relationships were called ''Sino-Thai'' or ''luk-jin'' (ลูกจีน) in Thai. These Chinese-Thai intermarriages declined somewhat in the early 20th century, when significant numbers of Chinese women also began immigrating to Thailand. Economic recession and unemployment forced many men to leave China for Thailand in search of work to seek wealth. If successful, they sent money back to their families in China. Many Chinese immigrants prospered under the "
tax farming Farming or tax-farming is a technique of financial management in which the management of a variable revenue stream is assigned by legal contract to a third party and the holder of the revenue stream receives fixed periodic rents from the contra ...
" system, whereby private individuals were sold the right to collect taxes at a price below the value of the tax revenues. The local Chinese community had long dominated domestic commerce and had served as agents for royal trade monopolies. With the rise of European economic influence, however, many Chinese shifted to opium trafficking and tax collecting, both of which were despised occupations. From 1882 to 1917, nearly 13,000 to 34,000 Chinese legally entered Thailand per year, mostly settling in
Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estimated populatio ...
and along the coast of the
Gulf of Siam The Gulf of Thailand, also known as the Gulf of Siam, is a shallow inlet in the southwestern South China Sea, bounded between the southwestern shores of the Indochinese Peninsula and the northern half of the Malay Peninsula. It is around in ...
. They predominated in occupations requiring arduous labor, skills, or entrepreneurship. They worked as blacksmiths, railroad labourers and
rickshaw A rickshaw originally denoted a two- or three-wheeled passenger cart, now known as a pulled rickshaw, which is generally pulled by one person carrying one passenger. The first known use of the term was in 1879. Over time, cycle rickshaws (als ...
pullers. While most Thais were engaged in rice production, the Chinese brought new farming ideas and new methods to supply labor on its rubber plantations, both domestically and internationally. However, republican ideas brought by the Chinese were considered seditious by the Thai government. For example, a translation of Chinese revolutionary
Sun Yat-sen Sun Yat-sen (; also known by several other names; 12 November 1866 – 12 March 1925) Singtao daily. Saturday edition. 23 October 2010. section A18. Sun Yat-sen Xinhai revolution 100th anniversary edition . was a Chinese politician who serv ...
's '' Three Principles of the People'' was banned under the Communism Act of 1933. The government had regulated
Chinese school A Chinese school () is a school that is established for the purpose of teaching the varieties of Chinese (in particular, Mandarin and Cantonese), though the purpose can vary to teaching different aspects of Chinese culture such as Chinese art, ca ...
s even before compulsory education was established in the country, starting with the Private Schools Act of 1918. This act required all foreign teachers to pass a Thai language test and for principals of all schools to implement standards set by the Thai
Ministry of Education An education ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for education. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of Education, Department of Education, and Ministry of Pub ...
. Legislation by King Rama VI (1910–1925) that required the adoption of Thai surnames was largely directed at the Chinese community as a number of ethnic Chinese families left
Burma Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John Wells explai ...
between 1930 and 1950 and settled in the
Ratchaburi Ratchaburi ( th, ราชบุรี, ) or Rajburi, Rat Buri) is a town ('' thesaban mueang'') in western Thailand, capital of Ratchaburi Province. Ratchaburi town covers the entire ''tambon'' Na Mueang (หน้าเมือง) of Muean ...
and Kanchanaburi Provinces of western Thailand. A few of the ethnic Chinese families in that area had already emigrated from Burma in the 19th century. The Chinese in Thailand also suffered discrimination between the 1930s to 1950s under the military dictatorship of Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram (in spite of having part-Chinese ancestry himself), which allied itself with the Empire of Japan. The Primary Education Act of 1932 made the Thai language the compulsory medium of education, but as a result of protests from Thai Chinese, by 1939, students were allowed two hours per week of Mandarin instruction. State corporations took over commodities such as rice, tobacco, and petroleum and Chinese businesses found themselves subject to a range of new taxes and controls. By 1970, more than 90 percent of the Chinese born in Thailand had abandoned Chinese citizenship and were granted Thai citizenship instead. In 1975, diplomatic relations were established with China.


Culture

Intermarriage with Thais has resulted in many people who claim Thai ethnicity with Chinese ancestry. People of Chinese descent are concentrated in the coastal areas of Thailand, principally
Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estimated populatio ...
. Considerable segments of Thailand's academic, business, and political elites are of Chinese descent.


Language

Today, nearly all ethnic Chinese in Thailand speak Thai exclusively. Only elderly Chinese immigrants still speak their native varieties of Chinese. The rapid and successful assimilation of Thai Chinese has been celebrated in contemporary literature such as "Letters from Thailand" ( th, จดหมายจากเมืองไทย) by a Thai Chinese author Botan. In the modern Thai language there are many signs of Chinese influence. In the 2000 census, 231,350 people identified themselves as speakers of a variant of Chinese ( Teochew, Hokkien, Hainanese,
Cantonese Cantonese ( zh, t=廣東話, s=广东话, first=t, cy=Gwóngdūng wá) is a language within the Chinese (Sinitic) branch of the Sino-Tibetan languages originating from the city of Guangzhou (historically known as Canton) and its surrounding ar ...
, or
Hakka The Hakka (), sometimes also referred to as Hakka Han, or Hakka Chinese, or Hakkas are a Han Chinese subgroup whose ancestral homes are chiefly in the Hakka-speaking provincial areas of Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Sichuan, Hunan, Zhej ...
). The Teochew dialect has served as the language of Bangkok's influential Chinese merchants' circles since the foundation of the city in the 18th century. Although Chinese language schools were closed during the nationalist period before and during the Second World War, the Thai government never tried to suppress Chinese cultural expression. Today, businesses in
Yaowarat Road Yaowarat Road ( th, ถนนเยาวราช, ; ) in Samphanthawong District is the main artery of Bangkok's Chinatown. Modern Chinatown now covers a large area around Yaowarat and Charoen Krung Road. It has been the main centre for trading ...
and
Charoen Krung Road Shophouses along Charoen Krung road with the Sathorn Unique Tower in the vicinity (2021) Charoen Krung Road ( th, ถนนเจริญกรุง, ) is a major road in Bangkok and the first in Thailand to be built using modern construction ...
in Bangkok's
Samphanthawong District Samphanthawong ( th, สัมพันธวงศ์, ) is one of the 50 districts (khet) of Bangkok, Thailand. Regarded as Bangkok's Chinatown, it is the smallest district in area but has the highest population density of Bangkok's districts. ...
which constitute the city's "Chinatown" still feature bilingual signs in Chinese and Thai. A number of Chinese words have found their way into the Thai language, especially the names of dishes and foodstuffs, as well as basic numbers (such as those from "three" to "ten") and terms related to gambling.
Chin Haw The Chin Haw or Chin Ho (; th, จีนฮ่อ, ), also known locally as Yunnanese ( zh, 雲南人, th, คนยูนนาน), are Chinese people who migrated to Thailand via Myanmar or Laos. Most of them were originally from Yunnan, a so ...
Chinese speak Southwestern Mandarin. The rise of China's prominence on the global economic stage has prompted many Thai Chinese business families to see Mandarin as a beneficial asset in partaking in economic links and conducting business between Thailand and Mainland China, with some families encouraging their children to learn Mandarin in order to reap the benefits of their ethnic Chinese identity and the increasing role of Mandarin as a prominent language of Overseas Chinese business communities. However, equally there are many Thais, regardless of their ethnic background who study Chinese in order to boost their business and career opportunities, rather than due to reasons of ethnic identity, with some sending their children to newly established Mandarin language schools.


Rise to economic dominance


19th century

The previous official of the British Raj government as well as colonial agent named
John Crawfurd John Crawfurd (13 August 1783 – 11 May 1868) was a Scottish physician, colonial administrator, diplomat, and author who served as the second and last Resident of Singapore. Early life He was born on Islay, in Argyll, Scotland, the son of ...
used detailed records kept from 1815 to 1824 to analyze the productivity of the 8,595 Chinese resident there vis-a-vis other ethnic groups. Astonished by their competence, he concluded that the Chinese population, about five-sixths of whom were unmarried men in the prime of life, "in point of effective labour, may be measured as equivalent to an ordinary population of above 37,000, and...to a numerical Malay population of more than 80,000!". By 1879, Chinese merchants controlled all steam-powered rice mills in Thailand. Most of the leading businessmen in Thailand were of Chinese extraction and accounted for a significant portion of Thailand's upper class. In 1890, despite British shipping dominance in Bangkok, Chinese businesses oversaw 62 percent of the shipping sector and served as agents for Western shipping firms as well as their own. They also dominated the rubber industry, market gardening, sugar production, and fish exporting sectors. In Bangkok, Thai Chinese dominated the entertainment and media industries, being the pioneers of Thailand's early publishing houses, newspapers, and film studios. Thai Chinese
moneylender In finance, a loan is the lending of money by one or more individuals, organizations, or other entities to other individuals, organizations, etc. The recipient (i.e., the borrower) incurs a debt and is usually liable to pay interest on that de ...
s wielded considerable economic power over the poorer indigenous Thai peasants, prompting accusations of Chinese bribery of government officials, wars between the
Chinese secret societies A triad ( zh , t=三合會 , s=三合会 , cy=sāam hahp wúi , j=saam1 hap6 wui6‑2 , hp=sān hé huì , first=t,j ) is a Chinese transnational organized crime syndicate based in Greater China and has outposts in various countries with signifi ...
, and the use of violent tactics to collect taxes. Chinese success served to foster Thai resentment against the Chinese at a time when their community was expanding rapidly. Waves of Han Chinese immigration swept into Siam in the 19th and early-20th centuries, peaking in the 1920s. Whereas Chinese bankers were accused of plunging the Thai peasant into poverty by charging high interest rates, the reality was that the Thai banking business was highly competitive. Chinese millers and rice traders were blamed for the economic recession that gripped Siam for nearly a decade after 1905. By the end of the nineteenth century, the Chinese would lose control of foreign trade to the European colonial powers, but served as
comprador A comprador or compradore () is a "person who acts as an agent for foreign organizations engaged in investment, trade, or economic or political exploitation". A comprador is a native manager for a European business house in East and South East Asi ...
es for Western trading houses. Ethnic Chinese then moved into
extractive industries Extractivism is the process of extracting natural resources from the Earth to sell on the world market. It exists in an economy that depends primarily on the extraction or removal of natural resources that are considered valuable for exportation w ...
—tin mining, logging and
sawmill A sawmill (saw mill, saw-mill) or lumber mill is a facility where logs are cut into lumber. Modern sawmills use a motorized saw to cut logs lengthwise to make long pieces, and crosswise to length depending on standard or custom sizes (dimensi ...
ing, rice milling, as well as building ports and railways. While acknowledged for their industriousness, the Chinese in Thailand were scorned by many. In the late 19th century, a British official in Siam said that "the Chinese are the Jews of Siam ... by judicious use of their business faculties and their powers of combination, they hold the Siamese in the palm of their hand".


20th century

By the early 20th century, the resident Chinese community in Bangkok was sizable, consisting of perhaps a third of the capital's population. Anti-Chinese sentiment was rife. In 1914, the Thai nationalist King Vajiravudh (Rama VI), published a pamphlet in Thai and English—''The Jews of the East''— employing a pseudonym. In it, he lambasted the Chinese. He described them as "avaricious barbarians who were 'entirely devoid of morals and mercy'". He depicted successful Chinese businessmen as gaining their success at the expense of indigenous Thais, prompting some Thai politicians to blame Thai Chinese businessmen for Thailand's economic difficulties. King Vajiravudh's views were influential among elite Thais and were quickly adopted by ordinary Thais, fueling their suspicion of and hostility to the Chinese minority. Wealth disparity and the poverty of native Thais resulted in blaming their socioeconomic ills on the Chinese, especially Chinese moneylenders. Beginning in the late-1930s and recommencing in the 1950s, the Thai government dealt with wealth disparities by pursuing a campaign of forced assimilation achieved through property confiscation, forced expropriation, coercive social policies, and anti-Chinese cultural suppression, seeking to eradicate ethnic Han Chinese consciousness and identity. Thai Chinese became the targets of state discrimination while indigenous Thais were granted economic privileges. The Siamese revolution of 1932 only tightened the grip of Thai nationalism, culminating in World War II when Thailand's Japanese ally was at war with China. After 1947 coup d'état, Thailand was an agrarian economy hobbled by
state-owned enterprises A state-owned enterprise (SOE) is a government entity which is established or nationalised by the ''national government'' or ''provincial government'' by an executive order or an act of legislation in order to earn profit for the governme ...
. The Chinese provided the impetus for Thailand's industrialization, transforming the Thai economy into an export-oriented, trade-based economy with global reach. Over the next several decades, internationalization and capitalist market-oriented policies led to the emergence of a manufacturing sector, which in turn catapulted Thailand into a Tiger Cub economy. Virtually all manufacturing and import-export firms were Chinese controlled. Despite their small numbers, the Chinese controlled virtually every line of business, from small retail trade to large industries. A mere ten percent of the population, ethnic Chinese dominate over four-fifths of the country's rice, tin, rubber, and timber exports, and virtually the country's entire wholesale and retail trade. Virtually all new manufacturing establishments were Chinese controlled. Despite failed Thai affirmative action-based policies in the 1930s to economically empower the indigenous Thai majority, 70 percent of retail outlets and 80–90 percent of rice mills were controlled by ethnic Chinese. A survey of Thailand's roughly seventy most powerful business groups found that all but three were owned by Thai Chinese. Bangkok's Thai Chinese clan associations rose to prominence throughout the city as the clans are major property holders. The Chinese control more than 80 percent of public companies listed on the
Stock Exchange of Thailand The Stock Exchange of Thailand ( th, ตลาดหลักทรัพย์แห่งประเทศไทย), or SET, is the only stock exchange in Thailand. Founded on 30 April 1975, it is ASEAN’s 2nd largest after Singapore and the ...
. All the residential and commercial land in central Siam was owned by Thai Chinese. Fifty ethnic Chinese families controlled the country's entire business sectors equivalent to 81–90 percent of the overall market capitalization of the Thai economy. Highly publicized profiles of wealthy Chinese entrepreneurs attracted great public interest and were used to illustrate the community's economic clout. More than 80 percent of the top 40 richest people in Thailand are Thai of full or partial Chinese descent. Thai Chinese entrepreneurs are influential in real estate,
agriculture Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people to ...
,
banking A bank is a financial institution that accepts deposits from the public and creates a demand deposit while simultaneously making loans. Lending activities can be directly performed by the bank or indirectly through capital markets. Because ...
, and finance, and the wholesale trading industries. In the 1990s, among the top ten Thai businesses in terms of sales, nine of them were Chinese-owned with only
Siam Cement The Siam Cement Public Company Limited (SCG; ) is the largest and oldest cement and building material company in Thailand and Southeast Asia. In 2016, SCG was also ranked as the second largest company in Thailand and the 604th largest public compan ...
not being a Chinese-owned firm. Of the five billionaires in Thailand in the late-20th century, all were ethnic Chinese or of partial Chinese descent. On 17 March 2012,
Chaleo Yoovidhya Chaleo Yoovidhya (; th, เฉลียว อยู่วิทยา, , ; 17 August 1923 – 17 March 2012) was a Thai businessman and investor. He was the originator of Krating Daeng () and co-creator of the Red Bull brand of energy drink ...
, of Chinese origin, died while listed on
Forbes list of billionaires ''The World's Billionaires'' is an annual ranking by documented net worth of the wealthiest billionaires in the world, compiled and published in March annually by the American business magazine ''Forbes''. The list was first published in March ...
as 205th in the world and third in the nation, with an estimated net worth of US$5 billion. By the late-1950s, ethnic Chinese comprised 70 percent of Bangkok's business owners and senior business managers, and 90 percent of the shares in Thai corporations were said to be held by Thais of Chinese extraction. Ninety percent of Thailand's industrial and commercial capital are also held by ethnic Chinese. Ninety percent of all investments in the industry and commercial sector and at least 50 percent of all investments in the banking and finance sectors is controlled by ethnic Chinese. Economic advantages would also persist as Thai Chinese controlled 80–90 percent of the rice mills, the largest enterprises in the nation. Thailand's lack of an indigenous Thai commercial culture led to the private sector being dominated entirely by Thai Chinese themselves. Of the 25 leading entrepreneurs in the Thai business sector, 23 are ethnic Chinese or of partial Chinese descent. Thai Chinese also comprise 96 percent of Thailand's 70 most powerful business groups. Family firms are extremely common in the Thai business sector as they are passed down from one generation to the next., last=Yeung , first=Henry , author2=Tse Min Soh , title=Corporate Governance and the Global Reach of Chinese Family Firms in Singapore , journal=Seoul Journal of Economics , date=Fall 2000 , volume=13 , issue=3 , pages=301-334 , publisher=Department of Geography, National University of Singapore , hdl=10371/1211 , url=https://s-space.snu.ac.kr/bitstream/10371/1211/1/v13n3_301.PDF, access-date=28 July 2022 , url-status=live, archive-url= http://web.archive.org/web/20200322155126/https://s-space.snu.ac.kr/bitstream/10371/1211/1/v13n3_301.PDF , archive-date=2020-03-22 Ninety percent of Thailand's manufacturing sector and 50 percent of Thailand's service sector is controlled by ethnic Chinese. According to a ''Financial Statistics of the 500 Largest Public Companies in Asia Controlled by Overseas Chinese in 1994'' chart released by Singaporean geographer Dr. Henry Yeung of the
National University of Singapore The National University of Singapore (NUS) is a national public research university in Singapore. Founded in 1905 as the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States Government Medical School, NUS is the oldest autonomous university in the c ...
, 39 companies were concentrated in Thailand with a market capitalization of US$35 billion and total assets of US$94 billion. In Thailand, ethnic Chinese control the nation's largest private banks:
Bangkok Bank Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited ( th, ธนาคารกรุงเทพ, RTGS: Thanakhan Krung Thep) is one of the largest commercial banks in Thailand. Its branch network includes over 1,165 branches, As of September 2018 within Thail ...
,
Thai Farmers Bank Kasikornbank ( th, ธนาคารกสิกรไทย, , Teochew: Khai-thài Ngîng-hâng, , stylised in all caps), often stylised as KBank and formerly known as the Thai Farmers Bank is a banking group in Thailand. KBank was establishe ...
,
Bank of Ayudhya Bank of Ayudhya Public Company Limited, branded and commonly referred to as Krungsri (sometimes stylized as krungsri), is the fifth largest bank in Thailand in terms of assets, loans, and deposits. Through its branches and service outlets are in ...
. Thai Chinese businesses are part of the larger
bamboo network The Bamboo network () or the Chinese Commonwealth () is a term used to conceptualize connections between businesses operated by the Overseas Chinese community in Southeast Asia. The Overseas Chinese business networks constitute the single most ...
, a network of Overseas Chinese businesses operating in the markets of Southeast Asia that share common family, ethnic, language, and cultural ties. Following the
1997 Asian financial crisis The Asian financial crisis was a period of financial crisis that gripped much of East Asia and Southeast Asia beginning in July 1997 and raised fears of a worldwide economic meltdown due to financial contagion. However, the recovery in 1998–1 ...
, structural reforms imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Indonesia and Thailand led to the loss of many monopolistic positions long held by the ethnic Chinese business elite. Despite the financial and economic crisis, Thai Chinese are estimated to own 65 percent of the total banking assets, 60 percent of the national trade, 90 percent of all local investments in the commercial sector, 90 percent of all local investments in the manufacturing sector, and 50 percent of all local investments in the banking and financial services sector.


21st century

The early-21st century saw Thai Chinese dominate Thai commerce at every level of society. Their economic clout plays a critical role in maintaining the country's economic vitality and prosperity. The economic power of the Thai Chinese is far greater than their proportion of the population would suggest. With their powerful economic presence, the Chinese dominate the country's wealthy elite. Development policies imposed by the Thai government provided business opportunities for the ethnic Chinese. A distinct Sino-Thai business community has emerged as the dominant economic group, controlling virtually all the major business sectors across the country. The modern Thai business sector is highly dependent on ethnic Chinese entrepreneurs and investors who control virtually all the country's banks and large conglomerates; their support is enhanced by the presence of lawmakers and politicians who are of at least part-Chinese descent. The Thai Chinese, a disproportionate wealthy, market-dominant minority not only form a distinct ethnic community, they also form, by and large, an economically advantaged social class. With the rise of China as a global economic power, Thai-Chinese businesses have become the foremost, largest investors in Mainland China among all overseas Chinese communities worldwide. Many Thai Chinese have sent their children to newly established Chinese language schools, visit China in record numbers, invest in China, and assume Chinese surnames. The
Charoen Pokphand The Charoen Pokphand Group Company, Ltd. (CP) (; ) is a Thai conglomerate based in Bangkok. It is Thailand's largest private company and the largest privately held Royal Warrant holder of the Thai Royal Family. The company describes itself as havi ...
(CP Group), a prominent Thai conglomerate founded by the Thai-Chinese Chearavanont family, has been the single largest foreign investor in China. CP Group also owns and operates
Tesco Lotus Lotus's (formerly known as Lotus Supercenter, Tesco Lotus Supercenter and Tesco Lotus) is a retail chain in Thailand founded and operated by Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group, with operations in Malaysia following the acquisition of Tesco Malaysia ...
, one of the largest foreign hypermarkets, 74 stores and seven distribution centers in 30 cities across China. According to Thai historian, Dr. Wasana Wongsurawat, the Thai elite has remained in power by employing a simple two-part strategy: first, secure the economic base by cultivating the support of the Thai-Chinese business elites; second, align with the dominant world power of the day. , increasingly, that power is China.


Religion

First-generation Chinese immigrants were followers of
Mahayana Buddhism ''Mahāyāna'' (; "Great Vehicle") is a term for a broad group of Buddhist traditions, texts, philosophies, and practices. Mahāyāna Buddhism developed in India (c. 1st century BCE onwards) and is considered one of the three main existing br ...
, Confucianism and Taoism. Theravada Buddhism has since become the religion of many ethnic Chinese in Thailand, especially among assimilated Chinese. Many Chinese in Thailand commonly combine certain practices of
Chinese folk religion Chinese folk religion, also known as Chinese popular religion comprehends a range of traditional religious practices of Han Chinese, including the Chinese diaspora. Vivienne Wee described it as "an empty bowl, which can variously be filled ...
with Theravada Buddhism due to the openness and tolerance of Buddhism. Major Chinese festivals such as
Chinese New Year Chinese New Year is the festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar and solar Chinese calendar. In Chinese and other East Asian cultures, the festival is commonly referred to as the Spring Festival () as t ...
,
Mid-Autumn Festival The Mid-Autumn Festival (Chinese: / ), also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival, is a traditional festival celebrated in Chinese culture. Similar holidays are celebrated in Japan (), Korea (), Vietnam (), and other countries in Eas ...
and
Qingming The Qingming festival or Ching Ming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day in English (sometimes also called Chinese Memorial Day or Ancestors' Day), is a traditional Chinese festival observed by the Han Chinese of mainland China, Hong Ko ...
are widely celebrated, especially in Bangkok, Phuket, and other parts of Thailand where there are large Chinese populations. There are several prominent Buddhist monks with Chinese ancestry like the well-known Buddhist reformer,
Buddhadasa Bhikkhu Phra Dharmakosācārya (Nguam Indapañño) ( th, พระธรรมโกศาจารย์ (เงื่อม อินฺทปญฺโญ); ), also known as Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu ( th, พุทธทาสภิกขุ; , 27 May 1906 � ...
and the former abbot of
Wat Saket Wat Saket Ratcha Wora Maha Wihan ( th, วัดสระเกศราชวรมหาวิหาร, usually shortened to Wat Saket is a Buddhist temple (''wat'') in Pom Prap Sattru Phai district, Bangkok, Thailand. The temple dates b ...
,
Somdet Kiaw Buḍḍhacarya ( th, สมเด็จพระพุฒาจารย์ ; ), dhamma name Upaseṇo ( th, อุปเสโณ; ), born as Kiaw Chokchai ( th, เกี่ยว โชคชัย; ), and commonly known as Somdet Kiaw ( ...
. The Peranakans in
Phuket Phuket (; th, ภูเก็ต, , ms, Bukit or ''Tongkah''; Hokkien:普吉; ) is one of the southern provinces (''changwat'') of Thailand. It consists of the island of Phuket, the country's largest island, and another 32 smaller islands o ...
are noted for their nine-day vegetarian festival between September and October. During the festival period, devotees will abstain from meat and the Chinese mediums will perform mortification of the flesh to exhibit the power of the Deities, and the rites and rituals seen are devoted to the veneration of various Deities. Such idiosyncratic traditions were developed during the 19th century in Phuket by the local Chinese with influences from Thai culture. In the north, there is a small minority of Chinese Muslims known as Chin Ho. They are mainly the descendants of Hui people migrated from Yunnan, China. There are seven Chinese mosques in
Chiang Mai Chiang Mai (, from th, เชียงใหม่ , nod, , เจียงใหม่ ), sometimes written as Chiengmai or Chiangmai, is the largest city in northern Thailand, the capital of Chiang Mai province and the second largest city in ...
. The best known is the
Ban Ho Mosque Hedaytul Islam (Ban Ho) Mosque (, th, มัสยิดเฮดายาตูลอิสลามบ้านฮ่อ), near the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, is one of the biggest mosques in the province, and also one of the seven Chinese mosq ...
.


Dialect groups

The vast majority of Thai Chinese belong to various southern Chinese dialect groups. Of these, 56 percent are Teochew (also commonly spelled as Teochiu), 16 percent
Hakka The Hakka (), sometimes also referred to as Hakka Han, or Hakka Chinese, or Hakkas are a Han Chinese subgroup whose ancestral homes are chiefly in the Hakka-speaking provincial areas of Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Sichuan, Hunan, Zhej ...
and 11 percent Hainanese. The
Cantonese Cantonese ( zh, t=廣東話, s=广东话, first=t, cy=Gwóngdūng wá) is a language within the Chinese (Sinitic) branch of the Sino-Tibetan languages originating from the city of Guangzhou (historically known as Canton) and its surrounding ar ...
and Hokkien each constitute seven percent of the Chinese population, and three percent belong to other Chinese dialect groups. A large number of Thai Chinese are the descendants of intermarriages between Chinese immigrants and Thais, while there are others who are of predominantly or solely of Chinese descent. People who are of mainly Chinese descent are descendants of immigrants who relocated to Thailand as well as other parts of
Nanyang Nanyang is the romanization of two common Chinese place names. It may refer to: Written as 南洋 (Southern Ocean) * Nanyang (region), a Chinese term denoting the Southeast Asian lands surrounding the South China Sea ;China * Nanyang Fleet, Qing ...
(the Chinese term for Southeast Asia used at the time) in the early to mid-20th century due to famine and civil war in the southern Chinese provinces of Guangdong (Teochew, Cantonese, and Hakka groups), Hainan (Hainanese), and Fujian (Hokkien, Henghua, Hockchew and Hakka groups).


Teochew

Traditionally, The Teochews is mainly majority population of
Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estimated populatio ...
Chonburi Chonburi ( th, ชลบุรี, , IAST: , ) is the capital of Chonburi Province and Mueang Chonburi District in Thailand. It is about 100 km southeast of Bangkok, on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand. Its name means 'city of water'. Cho ...
and
Chachoengsao Chachoengsao ( th, ฉะเชิงเทรา, ) is a town (''thesaban mueang'') in central Thailand, capital of Chachoengsao Province. It is on the banks of the Bang Pakong River. It includes ''tambon'' Na Mueang and parts of Ban Mai, Bang T ...
, until 1950s was overwhelm by Central Thai internal immigrants. Many of Thai military commander are also Teochew background, while others were involved in trade. During the reign of King Taksin, some influential Teochew traders were granted certain privileges. These prominent traders were called "royal Chinese" (''Jin-luang'' or จีนหลวง in Thai).


Hakka

Hakkas are mainly concentrated in
Chiang Mai Chiang Mai (, from th, เชียงใหม่ , nod, , เจียงใหม่ ), sometimes written as Chiengmai or Chiangmai, is the largest city in northern Thailand, the capital of Chiang Mai province and the second largest city in ...
, Phuket, and central western provinces. The Hakka own many private banks in Thailand, notably
Kasikorn Bank Kasikornbank ( th, ธนาคารกสิกรไทย, , Teochew: Khai-thài Ngîng-hâng, , stylised in all caps), often stylised as KBank and formerly known as the Thai Farmers Bank is a banking group in Thailand. KBank was establishe ...
and
Kiatnakin Bank Kiatnakin Phatra Bank ( th, ธนาคารเกียรตินาคินภัทร) is a full-service bank based in Thailand. The bank was founded in January 1971 in Bangkok with 17,000 million baht in funds, and has grown to 52 branc ...
.


Hainanese

Hainanese people is another prominent Thai Chinese group which are mainly concentrated in
Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estimated populatio ...
, Samui, and some central provinces. Notable Hainanese Thai families includes the Chirathivat family of
Central Group Central Group consists of a variety of diverse investments in various corporations in Thailand and abroad, including investments in retail, property development, brand management, hospitality, and food and beverage sectors, and in digital lifes ...
and Yoovidhya family of
Krating Daeng Krating Daeng ( th, กระทิงแดง, , ; 'red bull' or 'red gaur') is a sweetened, non- carbonated energy drink developed by Chaleo Yoovidhya. The drink is marketed and sold primarily in Southeast and East Asia; its derivative, ...
. Thailand Hainam politicians include
Boonchu Rojanastien Boonchu Rojanastien ( th, บุญชู โรจนเสถียร; , Chinese: 黃聞波, Huang Wenbo born January 20, 1921, Chon Buri Province, Thailand, died March 19, 2007, Bangkok)
,
Pote Sarasin Pote Sarasin ( th, พจน์ สารสิน, , ; 25 March 1905 – 28 September 2000) was the 9th Prime Minister of Thailand from the influential Sarasin family. He served as foreign minister from 1949 to 1950 and then served as ambassa ...
,
Banyat Bantadtan Banyat Bantadtan (林書清) ( th, บัญญัติ บรรทัดฐาน; , born 15 May 1942) is a Thai politician. From 2003 to 2005, he was the chairman of the Democrat Party and Leader of the Opposition against Prime Minister T ...
,
Jurin Laksanawisit Jurin Laksanawisit (林明利) ( th, จุรินทร์ ลักษณวิศิษฎ์, born 15 March 1956) is a Thai Democrat Party (Thailand), Democrat Party politician and author. He was former Minister of Public Health and Ministe ...
and Sondhi Limthongkul


Cantonese

Cantonese are predominantly from
Taishan __NOTOC__ Taishan may refer to: *Mount Tai or Taishan (), Shandong, China *Taishan District, Tai'an (), named after the Mount Tai, a district in Tai'an, Shandong, China *Taishan, Guangdong (), a county-level city of Jiangmen, Guangdong, China **Gre ...
,
Xinhui Xinhui, alternately romanized as Sunwui and also known as Kuixiang, is an urban district of Jiangmen in Guangdong, China. It grew from a separate city founded at the confluence of the Tan and West Rivers. It has a population of about 735,50 ...
and Guangzhou, known as Gwongfu ( th, กวางหู้, 廣府; literally: Canton government seat) this group are not very prominent and mainly concentrated in
Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estimated populatio ...
and the central provinces. Although Cantonese from Yulin primarily live in Betong of Yala Province known as Gwangsai ( th, กวางไส, 廣西; literally: Western Canton).


Hokkien

Hokkiens or Hoklos are a dominant group of Chinese particularly in the south of Thailand, mostly can trace their ancestor from
Xiamen Xiamen ( , ; ), also known as Amoy (, from Hokkien pronunciation ), is a sub-provincial city in southeastern Fujian, People's Republic of China, beside the Taiwan Strait. It is divided into six districts: Huli, Siming, Jimei, Tong'an, ...
; aside from Thais, they also traded with the Tamils during the
British Raj The British Raj (; from Hindi ''rāj'': kingdom, realm, state, or empire) was the rule of the British Crown on the Indian subcontinent; * * it is also called Crown rule in India, * * * * or Direct rule in India, * Quote: "Mill, who was himsel ...
and other foreigners in Thailand. Hokkiens primarily live in Bandon in Surat Thani Province. A smaller Hoklo community can also be found in
Hatyai Hat Yai ( th, หาดใหญ่, , also Haad Yai or Had Yai) is a city in southern Thailand near the Malaysian border. It is south of Bangkok, and has a population of 156,802 (2019) in the city itself and an urban population of about 400,00 ...
in Songkhla Province. Some of Hokkien live in Bangkok can trace their ancestor from
Zhangzhou Zhangzhou (), alternately romanized as Changchow, is a prefecture-level city in Fujian Province, China. The prefecture around the city proper comprises the southeast corner of the province, facing the Taiwan Strait and surrounding the prefect ...
, like
Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha Aiyawatt 'Top' Srivaddhanaprabha ( th, อัยยวัฒน์ ศรีวัฒนประภา), (born Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn, 26 July 1985) is a Thai businessman, the CEO and the Chairman of King Power, and the chairman of Leicester City ...
.


Peranakan

Some ethnic Chinese living in the Malay-dominated provinces in the far south use Malay, rather than Thai as a lingua franca, and many have intermarried with local Malays, and are known as Peranakan. Ther are mostly concentrate in
Phuket Phuket (; th, ภูเก็ต, , ms, Bukit or ''Tongkah''; Hokkien:普吉; ) is one of the southern provinces (''changwat'') of Thailand. It consists of the island of Phuket, the country's largest island, and another 32 smaller islands o ...
,
Trang Trang may refer to: Places * Trang province, Thailand **Trang, Thailand, capital city of Trang province **Trang Airport ** Trang railway station ** Trang River *Trang, a sub-district of Mayo district, Pattani province, Thailand * Trang (commune), ...
and Phang Nga Provinces.


Family names

Almost all Thai-Chinese or Sino-Thais, especially those who came to Thailand before the 1950s, only use
Thai surname Thai names follow the Western European pattern of a given name followed by a family name. This differs from the family-name-first patterns of Cambodian, Vietnamese, and other East Asian countries. Thai names (given and family) are diverse and ...
in public, while it was required by
Rama VI Vajiravudh ( th, วชิราวุธ, , 1 January 188126 November 1925) was the sixth monarch of Siam under the Chakri dynasty as Rama VI. He ruled from 23 October 1910 until his death in 1925. King Vajiravudh is best known for his efforts ...
as a condition of Thai citizenship. The few retaining native
Chinese surname Chinese surnames are used by Han Chinese and Sinicized ethnic groups in China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, and among overseas Chinese communities around the world such as Singapore and Malaysia. Written Chinese names begin with surnames, unlike the ...
s are either recent immigrants or resident aliens. For some immigrants who settled in Southern Thailand before the 1950s, it was common to simply prefix ''Sae-'' (from
Chinese Chinese can refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation ** List of ethnic groups in China, people of v ...
: , 'family name') to a transliteration of their name to form the new family name;
Wanlop Saechio Wanlop Sae-chew ( th, : วัลลภ แซ่จิ๋ว, born October 20, 1986), simply known as Rong ( th, รอง), is a Thai professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper. Honours Club ;Thai Port * Thai FA Cup (1): 2009 * Thai Le ...
's last name thus derived from the Hainanese and
Chanin Sae-ear Chanin Sae-ear ( th, ชนินทร์ แซ่เอียะ; , born 5 July 1992) is a Thai professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Thai League 1 club Chonburi and the Thailand national team. International career Chanin pla ...
's last name is from Hokkien . ''Sae'' is also used by Hmong people in Thailand. In 1950s-1970s Chinese immigrants had that surname in Thailand, although Chinese immigrants to Thailand after the 1970s use their Chinese family names without ''Sae-'' therefore these people didn't recognize as Sino-Thais like Thai celebrity, Thassapak Hsu's last name is Mandarin's surname . Sino-Thai surnames are often distinct from those of the other-Thai population, with generally longer names mimicking those of high officials and upper-class Thais and with elements of these longer names retaining their original Chinese family name in translation or transliteration. For example, former Prime Minister
Banharn Silpa-Archa Banharn Silpa-archa (also spelled ''Banhan'', ''Silapa''-, ''Sinlapa''-, -''acha''; th, บรรหาร ศิลปอาชา, , ; ; 19 August 1932 – 23 April 2016) was a Thai politician. He was the Prime Minister of Thailand from 1995 ...
's unusual ''Archa'' element is a translation into Thai of his family's former name Ma ( trad. 馬, simp. 马, lit. 'horse'). Similarly, the ''Lim'' in Sondhi Limthongkul's name is the Hainanese pronunciation of the name Lin (林). For an example, see the background of the Vejjajiva Palace name. Note that the latter-day
Royal Thai General System of Transcription The Royal Thai General System of Transcription (RTGS) is the official system for rendering Thai words in the Latin alphabet. It was published by the Royal Institute of Thailand. It is used in road signs and government publications and is the clo ...
would transcribe it as ''Wetchachiwa'' and that the Sanskrit-derived name refers to 'medical profession'.


Notable figures


Royalty

*King
Taksin King Taksin the Great ( th, สมเด็จพระเจ้าตากสินมหาราช, , ) or the King of Thonburi ( th, สมเด็จพระเจ้ากรุงธนบุรี, ; ; Teochew: Dên Chao; April 17, ...
of Thonburi - son of a Teochew Chinese father migrant gambler or trader and a Thai mother *King
Rama I Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok Maharaj (, 20 March 1737 – 7 September 1809), personal name Thongduang (), also known as Rama I, was the founder of the Rattanakosin Kingdom and the first monarch of the reigning Chakri dynasty of Siam (now Thai ...
- "a beautiful daughter of a mix of Chinese and Thai family in Ayutthaya" *Queen Suthida, Queen consort of Thailand


Prime Ministers

Thai Chinese Prime Ministers:


20th century

Kon Hutasingha,
Phot Phahonyothin Phraya Phahonphonphayuhasena, (29 March 1887 – 14 February 1947) (short form: Phraya Phahon), born as Phot Phahonyothin, was a Thai military leader and politician. He became the second prime minister of Siam in 1933 after ousting his pr ...
, Plaek Phibunsongkhram, Seni Pramoj,An Impressive Day at M.R. Kukrit's Home


/ref>
Pridi Banomyong Pridi Banomyong ( th, ปรีดี พนมยงค์, , ; 11 May 1900 – 2 May 1983), also known by his noble title Luang Praditmanutham ( th, หลวงประดิษฐ์มนูธรรม) was a Thai politician and professo ...
,
Thawan Thamrongnawasawat Thawan Thamrongnawasawat (also spelt ''Thawal Thamrongnavaswadhi'' or ''Thawal Thamrongnavasawat''; th, ถวัลย์ ธำรงนาวาสวัสดิ์, ; ), born Thawan Tharisawat (, ; 21 November 1901 – 3 December 1988), w ...
,
Pote Sarasin Pote Sarasin ( th, พจน์ สารสิน, , ; 25 March 1905 – 28 September 2000) was the 9th Prime Minister of Thailand from the influential Sarasin family. He served as foreign minister from 1949 to 1950 and then served as ambassa ...
,
Thanom Kittikachorn Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn ( th, ถนอม กิตติขจร, ; 11 August 1911 – 16 June 2004) was the leader of Thailand from 1963 to 1973, during which he staged a self-coup, until public protests which exploded into viol ...
,
Sarit Thanarat Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat (also spelt ''Dhanarajata''; th, สฤษดิ์ ธนะรัชต์, ; 16 June 1908 – 8 December 1963) was a Thai general who staged a coup in 1957, replacing Plaek Phibunsongkhram as Thailand's prime m ...
,Gale, T. 2005. Encyclopedia of World Biographies.
Kukrit Pramoj Mom Rajawongse Kukrit Pramoj ( th, คึกฤทธิ์ ปราโมช, , ; 20 April 1911 – 9 October 1995) was a Thai politician, scholar and professor. He was Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand 1973–1974. He was t ...
, Thanin Kraivichien,
Kriangsak Chamanan Kriangsak Chamanan ( th, เกรียงศักดิ์ ชมะนันทน์, ; 17 December 191723 December 2003) served as prime minister of Thailand from 1977 to 1980. After staging a successful coup, he was asked to become Prime ...
,Krīangsak, Chamanan.
thīralưk Ngān Phrarātchathān Phlœng Sop Phon ʻēk Krīangsak Chamanan: ʻadīt Nāyokratthamontrī 12 Pho. Yo. 2549
translated as Official Documents of Cremation Volumes in honour of former Thai president Kriangsak Chomanan''. Krung Thēp: Khunying Wirat Chamanan, 2006. Print.
Chatichai Choonhavan Chatichai Choonhavan ( th, ชาติชาย ชุณหะวัณ, , ; 5 April 1920 – 6 May 1998) was a Thai army officer, diplomat and politician. From 1986 to 1991, he was the chairman of the Thai Nation Party and served as the Prim ...
,
Anand Panyarachun Anand Panyarachun ( th, อานันท์ ปันยารชุน, , ; born 9 August 1932) was Thailand's Prime Minister of Thailand, Prime Minister twice: once in 1991–1992 and again during the latter half of 1992. He was effective ...
, Suchinda Kraprayoon,
Chuan Leekpai Chuan Leekpai ( th, ชวน หลีกภัย, , ; ; born 28 July 1938) is a Thai politician who is the current President of the National Assembly of Thailand as well as the incumbent Speaker of the Thai House of Representatives. Previou ...
,
Banharn Silpa-archa Banharn Silpa-archa (also spelled ''Banhan'', ''Silapa''-, ''Sinlapa''-, -''acha''; th, บรรหาร ศิลปอาชา, , ; ; 19 August 1932 – 23 April 2016) was a Thai politician. He was the Prime Minister of Thailand from 1995 ...
,
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh Chavalit Yongchaiyudh ( th, ชวลิต ยงใจยุทธ, , ; born 15 May 1932), also known as "Big Jiew" (, , ), is a Thai politician and retired army officer. From 1986 to 1990 he was the Commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army ...
,


21st century

Thaksin Shinawatra,
Samak Sundaravej Samak Sundaravej ( th, สมัคร สุนทรเวช, , ; 13 June 1935 – 24 November 2009) was a Thai politician who briefly served as the Prime Minister of Thailand and Minister of Defense in 2008, as well as the leader of the Peo ...
.,
Yingluck Shinawatra Yingluck Shinawatra ( th, ยิ่งลักษณ์ ชินวัตร, , ; ; born 21 June 1967), nicknamed Pou ( th, ปู, , , meaning "crab"), is a Thai businesswoman, politician and a member of the Pheu Thai Party who became the Pri ...
, Abhisit Vejjajiva,
Prayut Chan-o-cha Prayut Chan-o-cha (sometimes spelled Prayuth Chan-ocha; th, ประยุทธ์ จันทร์โอชา, ; born 21 March 1954) is a Thai politician and retired army officer who has served as the Prime Minister of Thailand since he ...
.


Cabinet and governors

*
Boonchu Rojanastien Boonchu Rojanastien ( th, บุญชู โรจนเสถียร; , Chinese: 黃聞波, Huang Wenbo born January 20, 1921, Chon Buri Province, Thailand, died March 19, 2007, Bangkok)
, Banker, Deputy Prime Minister, Finance Minister. *
Chitchai Wannasathit Police General Chitchai Wannasathit ( th, ชิดชัย วรรณสถิตย์, ; ; born 13 August 1946 in Ubon Ratchathani Province) was the caretaker prime minister of Thailand from April to May 2006, when Thaksin Shinawatra t ...
, Minister of Justice, Acting Prime Minister. *
Pao Sarasin Police General Pao Sarasin (c. 1929 – March 7, 2013) was a Thai politician and former police officer. Sarasin served as the Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, as well as the country's Interior Minister, in 1992. Early life and education Pao S ...
, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister. *
Chavarat Charnvirakul Chavarat Charnvirakul ( th, ชวรัตน์ ชาญวีรกูล, , ; born 7 June 1936 in Bangkok) is a Thai politician. He had served as an Acting Prime Minister of Thailand as a result of the 2008 Thai political crisis. Educatio ...
, Acting Prime Minister of Thailand, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Social Development, Human Security and Interior Minister. *
Bhichai Rattakul Bhichai Rattakul ( th, พิชัย รัตตกุล, , ; 16 September 1924 – 28 February 2022) was a Thai politician who served as the Deputy Prime Minister from 1983 to 1990 and 1997 to 2000, Speaker of the House of Representatives, ...
, World President of Rotary International, Deputy Prime Minister, Thailand National Assembly speaker, Minister of Foreign Affairs. *
Kalaya Sophonpanich Kalaya Sophonpanich ( th, กัลยา โสภณพนิช; ; ; born 21 September 1940) is a Thai physicist and politician who served as the Minister of Science and Technology from 2008 to 2010. Early life and education Kalaya is the d ...
, Minister of Science and Technology. *
Bhichit Rattakul Bhichit Rattakul ( th, พิจิตต รัตตกุล, , born August 30, 1946) is a Thai politician who served as the governor of Bangkok from 1996 to 2000 and the science deputy minister of Thailand. He is the son of former foreign min ...
, Governor of Bangkok and Businessman. *
Kanchana Silpa-archa Kanchana Silpa-archa ( th, กัญจนา ศิลปอาชา, ; born 15 February 1960) is a Thai politician who is currently serving as the leader of the Chartthaipattana Party. She previously served as Deputy Minister of the Ministry ...
, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Education. *
Apirak Kosayodhin Apirak Kosayodhin ( th, อภิรักษ์ โกษะโยธิน; , born March 30, 1961) is a former Thai business executive and former governor of Bangkok. In the gubernatorial elections on August 29, 2004 he won with 40% of the vo ...
, Governor of Bangkok, CEO of
True Corporation True Corporation Public Company Limited (TRUE) is a communications conglomerate in Thailand. True controls Thailand's largest cable TV provider, TrueVisions, Thailand's largest internet service provider True Internet and one of Thailand's larges ...
. *
Varawut Silpa-archa Varawut Silpa-archa ( th, วราวุธ ศิลปอาชา) is a Thai politician. , he serves as Minister of Natural Resources and Environment in the second cabinet of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Early life and education Vara ...
, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment. *
Anutin Charnvirakul Anutin Charnvirakul ( th, อนุทิน ชาญวีรกูล, ; born 13 September 1966 in Bangkok) is a Thai politician. , he is a Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand and is also the Minister of Public Health. Notably, he is the promin ...
, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health.


Business and entrepreneur

*
Chin Sophonpanich Chin Sophonpanich ( th, ชิน โสภณพนิช; ; 10 November 1910 – 4 January 1988) was a Thai entrepreneur who founded Bangkok Bank and Bangkok Insurance. Biography Chin was born in Wat Sai quarter in Thonburi Province (curre ...
, Banker that founded the
Bangkok Bank Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited ( th, ธนาคารกรุงเทพ, RTGS: Thanakhan Krung Thep) is one of the largest commercial banks in Thailand. Its branch network includes over 1,165 branches, As of September 2018 within Thail ...
and
Bangkok Insurance The Bangkok Insurance Public Company Limited is a Thai insurance company based in Bangkok. The company is one of the leading insurance companies in the country. History Bangkok Insurance PCL. was established on 15 April 1947 as Asia Insurance ...
. *
Chaleo Yoovidhya Chaleo Yoovidhya (; th, เฉลียว อยู่วิทยา, , ; 17 August 1923 – 17 March 2012) was a Thai businessman and investor. He was the originator of Krating Daeng () and co-creator of the Red Bull brand of energy drink ...
, Billionaire inventor of
Red Bull Red Bull is a brand of energy drinks of Austrian company Red Bull GmbH. With 38% market share, it is the most popular energy drink brand as of 2019. Since its launch in 1987, more than 100 billion cans of Red Bull have been sold worldwide, incl ...
. *
Vanich Chaiyawan Vanich Chaiyawan (; born 1931) is a Thai billionaire businessman, chairman of Thai Life Insurance, the second-largest life insurer in Thailand. Early life Vanich Chaiyawan was born in 1931. He comes from a Thai Chinese family. Career Chaiyawan ...
, Billionaire and chairman of
Thai Life Insurance Thai Life Insurance Public Co. Ltd or simply Thai Life Insurance ( th, บริษัท ไทยประกันชีวิต จำกัด (มหาชน)) is the first Thai insurance company . The company was founded in 1942 and is h ...
, the second-largest life insurer in Thailand. *
Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth ( th, ปราเสริฐ ปราสาททองโอสถ, born 22 March 1933) is a Thai billionaire businessman of Chinese descent, former surgeon, and the founder and owner of Bangkok Dusit Medical Servic ...
, founder and owner of
Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Bangkok Dusit Medical Services ( th, บริษัท กรุงเทพดุสิตเวชการ จำกัด (มหาชน), stock symbol: SETBDMS is Thailand's largest private healthcare group. It was founded by the Thai bi ...
, Thailand's largest private health care group, and the owner of
Bangkok Airways Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited ( th, บางกอกแอร์เวย์ส) is a regional airline based in Bangkok, Thailand. It operates scheduled services to destinations in Thailand, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Laos, M ...
. *
Dhanin Chearavanont Dhanin Chearavanont ( th, ธนินท์ เจียรวนนท์; ; born 19 April 1939), known in Chinese as Chia Kok Min (), is a Thai billionaire businessman, based in Bangkok. He is the senior chairman of CP Group, Thailand's largest ...
, Billionaire and the senior chairman of
CP Group The Charoen Pokphand Group Company, Ltd. (CP) (; ) is a Thai conglomerate based in Bangkok. It is Thailand's largest private company and the largest privately held Royal Warrant holder of the Thai Royal Family. The company describes itself as havi ...
. * Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, Billionaire business magnate and investor. *
Krit Ratanarak Krit Ratanarak (; ; ; born 19 April 1946) is a Thai-Chinese billionaire businessman, and the chairman of Bangkok Broadcasting & Television Company (operator of Channel 7) and head of one of Thailand's leading family business groups. The Ratana ...
, Billionaire chairman of
Bangkok Broadcasting & Television Company The Channel 7 or Channel 7 HD, fully known as Bangkok Broadcasting & Television Company Limited Channel 7 ( th, สถานีโทรทัศน์ช่อง 7 เอชดี), is a Thai free-to-air television network that was launched o ...
. *
Chalerm Yoovidhya Chalerm Yoovidhya (; born 1950) is a Thai billionaire businessman and heir to the Red Bull fortune. , ''Forbes'' estimates his net worth at US$20.2 billion. Early life Chalerm Yoovidhya is the eldest son of Chaleo Yoovidhya, the originator of K ...
, Billionaire Businessman and heir to the Red Bull fortune. *
Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha ( th, วิชัย ศรีวัฒนประภา;} born Vichai Raksriaksorn, th, วิชัย รักศรีอักษร; 4 April 1958 – 27 October 2018) was a Thai billionaire businessman and th ...
, Billionaire founder, owner and chairman of
King Power The King Power International Group ( th, กลุ่มบริษัท คิง เพาเวอร์ อินเตอร์เนชันแนล) is a Thai travel retail group, based in Bangkok. The chairman and CEO was Vichai Sriv ...
. *
Chartsiri Sophonpanich Chartsiri Sophonpanich ( th, ชาติศิริ โสภณพนิช, , zh, 陳智深, Teochew: Tâng Tì-tshim; born 12 May 1959) is a Thai banker. He currently serves as President of Bangkok Bank, the largest commercial bank in Tha ...
, Billionaire President of
Bangkok Bank Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited ( th, ธนาคารกรุงเทพ, RTGS: Thanakhan Krung Thep) is one of the largest commercial banks in Thailand. Its branch network includes over 1,165 branches, As of September 2018 within Thail ...
. *
Panthongtae Shinawatra Panthongtae Shinawatra (born December 2, 1979) ( th, พานทองแท้ ชินวัตร; ), nickname Oak, is the only son of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He became a billionaire after having been given a large po ...
, founding Billionaire of
Voice TV Voice TV is a Thai television channel, notable for its liberal and pro-Thaksin stance and political-centric analysis. It is broadcast via ''digital terrestrial television'' (from 2014 until 2019), satellite, cable (as Video To Home 2), and web st ...
. *
Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha Aiyawatt 'Top' Srivaddhanaprabha ( th, อัยยวัฒน์ ศรีวัฒนประภา), (born Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn, 26 July 1985) is a Thai businessman, the CEO and the Chairman of King Power, and the chairman of Leicester City ...
, youngest Billionaire of Asia.


Others

*
Atthaya Thitikul Atthaya Thitikul ( th, อาฒยา ฐิติกุล, , ; born 20 February 2003) is a Thai professional golfer who plays on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour. She is the youngest golfer ever to win a professional golf ...
, professional golfer *
Chang and Eng Bunker Chang Bunker and Eng Bunker (May 11, 1811 – January 17, 1874) were Siamese-American conjoined twin brothers whose fame propelled the expression "Siamese twins" to become synonymous for conjoined twins in general. They were widely exhibited as ...
, famous conjoined twins. *
Bundit Ungrangsee Bundit Ungrangsee ( th, บัณฑิต อึ้งรังษี; , born December 7, 1970) is a Thai symphonic conductor. Thai-born and of Chinese descent, Bundit Ungrangsee was named one of two co-winners and Laureates of the inaugural M ...
, symphonic conductor. *
Apichatpong Weerasethakul Apichatpong Weerasethakul ( th, อภิชาติพงศ์ วีระเศรษฐกุล; ; ) is a Thai independent film director, screenwriter, and film producer. Working outside the strict confines of the Thai film studio system, ...
, award-winning film director. *
Buddhadasa Bhikkhu Phra Dharmakosācārya (Nguam Indapañño) ( th, พระธรรมโกศาจารย์ (เงื่อม อินฺทปญฺโญ); ), also known as Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu ( th, พุทธทาสภิกขุ; , 27 May 1906 � ...
, famous and influential Buddhist reformist monk. *
Piyabutr Saengkanokkul Piyabutr Saengkanokkul ( th, ปิยบุตร แสงกนกกุล, , , born 23 October 1979) is a Thai academic, activist, former politician, and Secretary-General of the Progressive Movement, a socio-political group. He served as a ...
, academic and politician. He served as a member of the
Thai House of Representatives The House of Representatives ( th, สภาผู้แทนราษฎร; ; ) is the lower house of the National Assembly of Thailand, the legislative branch of the Thai government. The system of government of Thailand is that of a consti ...
. *
Parit Wacharasindhu Parit Wacharasindhu ( th, พริษฐ์ วัชรสินธุ; born 10 December 1992), nicknamed Itim () is a Thai politician who currently serves as a party-list member of the Thai House of Representatives. He is also the current S ...
, politician and television host. *
Joey Boy Joey Boy ( th, โจอี้ บอย; born 1975) or Apisit Opasaimlikit ( th, อภิสิทธิ์ โอภาสเอี่ยมลิขิต, ), is a Thai hip hop singer and producer known as The Godfather of Thai Hip Hop. ...
, hip hop singer and producer. *
Puttichai Kasetsin Puttichai Kasetsin ( th, พุฒิชัย เกษตรสิน; born 3 July 1986), better known as Push () is a Thai actor, model, DJ and TV host. He gained popularity in his acting career after starring in ''Ugly Duckling: Perfect Match ...
, actor, DJ, television host. *
Tanutchai Wijitwongthong Tanutchai Wijitwongthong ( th, ธนัชชัย วิจิตรวงศ์ทอง; also known as Mond ( th, ม่อน), born 25 January 1997) is a Thai actor. He is known for his main roles as Por in GMMTV's '' Fabulous 30: The Ser ...
, actor. *
Chalida Vijitvongthong Mint Chalida Vijitvongthong ( th, ชาลิดา วิจิตรวงศ์ทอง; , August 8, 1993) is a Thai actress and model. Acting career Chalida Vijitvongthong is of Chinese and Indian descent.Utt Panichkul Greg Uttsada Panichkul ( th, อัษฎา พานิชกุล; ; born September 3, 1973) is an American-born Thai actor, television presenter and model. He was a VJ for MTV Asia for over 15 years, making him one of Asia's longest running ...
, actor, host, television presenter. *
Nichkhun Nichkhun Buck Horvejkul ( th, นิชคุณ หรเวชกุล; ; born June 24, 1988), better known mononymously as Nichkhun ( ko, 닉쿤), is a Thai American singer, songwriter, rapper, actor and model who is currently based in Sout ...
, singer rapper. * James Ma, actor and model. *
Ten (singer) Chittaphon Leechaiyapornkul ( th, ชิตพล ลี้ชัยพรกุล; ; ; born February 27, 1996), known professionally as Ten ( th, เตนล์, ko, 텐), is a Thai singer and dancer based in South Korea and China. He debute ...
, singer and dancer. *
BamBam Kunpimook Bhuwakul ( th, กันต์พิมุกต์ ภูวกุล; ; ; born May 2, 1997), nicknamed BamBam (; ), is a Thai rapper and singer based in South Korea, and a member of the boy band Got7. Biography His name is derive ...
, Boy Band rapper, record producer


See also

*
Kian Un Keng Shrine Kian Un Keng Shrine or spelled Kuan An Keng Shrine ( th, ศาลเจ้าเกียนอันเกง; zh, 建安宮; pinyin: ''Jiàn'ān gōng''), known internationally as Guanyin Shrine (ศาลเจ้าแม่กวนอิ� ...
(建安宮) *
Wat Mangkon Kamalawat Wat Mangkon Kamalawat ( th, วัดมังกรกมลาวาส, ), previously (and still commonly) known as Wat Leng Noei Yi ( th, วัดเล่งเน่ยยี่, ; ), is the largest and most important Chinese Buddhist templ ...
(龍蓮寺) * Wat Bamphen Chin Phrot (永福寺) *
Leng Buai Ia Shrine Leng Buai Ia Shrine ( th, ศาลเจ้าเล่งบ๊วยเอี๊ยะ; zh, 龍尾古廟) is a Chinese shrine, in the Samphanthawong district of Bangkok's Chinatown. It is located in a courtyard among a network of narrow all ...
(龍尾古廟) *
Gong Wu Shrine file:Chao Phra river - Princess Mother Park - Bangkok Thailand - panoramio.jpg, 250px, Guan Yu Shrine Guan Yu Shrine or written as Gong Wu Shrine ( th, ศาลเจ้ากวนอู) is a historic joss house, shrine of Guan Yu, Lord Guan, Mar ...
*
San Chaopho Suea (Sao Chingcha) San Chaopho Suea (Sao Chingcha) ( th, ศาลเจ้าพ่อเสือ (เสาชิงช้า)) or San Chaopho Suea Phra Nakhon (), usually shortened to San Chaopho Suea (; ; commonly known in English as Tiger God Shrine) is a Chi ...
(打惱路玄天上帝廟) *
Wat San Chao Chet San Chao Chet is a temple to Goddess Mazu, Chinese Goddess of Sea and Patron Deity of fishermen, sailors and any occupations related to sea/ocean. The temple is located on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River in the Bang Rak District of Ban ...
(七聖媽廟) * Chao Mae Thapthim Shrine (水尾聖娘廟) * Thian Fah Foundation Hospital (天華醫院) *
Poh Teck Tung Foundation The Poh Teck Tung Foundation ( th, มูลนิธิป่อเต็กตึ๊ง, from zh, t=華僑報德善堂, p=Huáqiáo Bàodé shàntáng) is a rescue foundation founded in Thailand famously known for rescuing road accident victim ...
*
Lim Ko Niao Lim Ko Niao (), th, ลิ้มกอเหนี่ยว), alternatively Lin Guniang or Lim Kor Niaw and also named Lim Kun Yew, is a deity worshipped by the Chinese people in southern Thailand. She was said to be the sister of Lim Toh Khiam, ...
(林姑娘) *
Chow Yam-nam Chow Yam-nam (; June 19, 1937 - August 17, 2013Tw.nextmedia.com.Tw.nextmedia.com" ''泰國白龍王病重.'' Retrieved on 2010-24-10.) was a Thai guru born in Pattaya to Chinese parents, better known publicly as Bak Lung-wong (), literally the Whit ...
(White Dragon King) * China–Thailand relations *
Racism in Thailand Racism in Thailand is a prevalent problem but is only infrequently publicly discussed. The United Nations (UN) does not define "racism"; however, it does define "racial discrimination": According to the 1965 UN ''International Convention on the Elim ...
*
Chinese folk religion in Southeast Asia Chinese folk religion plays a dynamic role in the lives of the overseas Chinese who have settled in the countries of this geographic region, particularly Burmese Chinese, Singaporean Chinese, Malaysian Chinese, Thai Chinese and Hoa. The Indon ...
*
Burmese Chinese Chinese Burmese, also Sino-Burmese or Tayoke, are a Burmese citizens of full or partial Chinese ancestry. They are group of overseas Chinese born or raised in Myanmar (Burma). As of 2012, the Burmese Chinese population is estimated to be as h ...
*
Chinese Koreans Chinese Korean or Korean Chinese may refer to: *Sino-Korean vocabulary, Chinese loanwords in the Korean language *People's Republic of China – North Korea relations * People's Republic of China – South Korea relations *Republic of China – Nort ...
*
English Americans English Americans (historically known as Anglo-Americans) are Americans whose ancestry originates wholly or partly in England. In the 2020 American Community Survey, 25.21 million self-identified as being of English origin. The term is distin ...


Notes


References


Further reading

* * * * Skinner, G. William. ''Leadership and Power in the Chinese Community in Thailand''. Ithaca (Cornell University Press), 1958. * *


External links


Dr. Wasana Wongsurawat lectures about her book ''The Crown and the Capitalists; The Ethnic Chinese and the Founding of the Thai Nation'', 15 January 2020 (video)

Thai-Chinese chamber of commerce

Thai Chinese.net
*
Thai Chinese.net


Associations


The Chinese Association in Thailand (Chong Hua)

Teochew Association of Thailand

Hakka Association of Thailand
*
Thai Hainan Trade association of Thailand

Fujian Association of Thailand


Miscellaneous


Thai Chinese BBS

Assessment for Chinese in Thailand

Anti-Chinese Labor riot of 1924, & bottom of page, how Thai Army suppressed 1889 riot between Chinese triads Tang Kong Xi (Teochew) and Siew Li Kue (Fujian)


{{Overseas Chinese Chinese diaspora by country China–Thailand relations
Chinese Chinese can refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation ** List of ethnic groups in China, people of v ...