The already testy South China Sea waters just got a little choppier. The US has proposed expanding its military presence in Southeast Asia with the pretty apparent (though undisclosed) goal of contesting China's clampdown in the region. The protocol calls for strengthening US alliances with Southeast Asian nations, and increasing its military operations in the area without establishing permanent bases in the region so as to avoid another Okinawa debacle. more ›

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Bangkok celebrates the Year of the Black Water Dragon with a special underwater dragon dance. more ›

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13 Chinese sailors were found dead in the Mekong river in northern Thailand over the weekend, who composed the crew of two Chinese cargo boats, the Huaping (华平) and the Yuxing No.8 (玉兴8号) captured by local drug traffickers on Wednesday. Most of the victims had been shot, and were found blindfolded with their hands bound. Two female cooks were also part of the crew. more ›

A group of Chinese tourists have reported a travel agent to the authorities after they were forced to pay RMB800 each in tickets for sex shows in Pattaya when the guide stopped their bus in a remote area and turned off the a/c till everyone paid up. According to one of those tourists, "It was extremely hot in the coach, but we dared not leave because it was stopped in a dark, remote place. The tour guide said that if we didn't pay, the driver wouldn't have money for fuel." The travel agency says it has since sacked the tour guide for inappropriate behaviour and offered a full refund and compensation for the tickets. [Shanghai Daily] more ›

Those of you who have been in Shanghai for a while will remember food writer Jarrett Wrisley, who started out at That's Shanghai and later helmed SH Mag's food column (he also wrote for Shanghaiist -- very briefly). In his latest column over at the Atlantic, Wrisley writes about the existential crisis he experienced late last year when he realised that the "best job in the world" (food writing) wasn't a real job anymore because "[f]ood magazines were floundering", "[e]ditors backpedaling" and “I had more outstanding payments from publications than I had money in my bank account”. And with that, he decided to take the plunge and start a bar and restaurant in Bangkok, where he is now based. The bar will serve Thai food, "mostly the sort you'd eat on the street." From all of us at Shanghaiist, good luck, Jarrett! more ›

From today until Tuesday, Xintiandi will have its own version of a Thai floating market. As a prelude to the opening of the Thailand Pavilion at the Expo in less than a month, the Pavilion organizers and the Consulate General of Thailand have organized the event for visitors to “feel the authentic Thai culture.” more ›

Well isn't this a treat! Thanks in part to the solar eclipse, Shanghai's going to get a dash of royalty on Wednesday. Shanghai Daily has reported that "Thailand's Princess" will be in the city to watch the metereological event from a special stand at Jinshan City Beach. They didn't specify which Thai princess would be coming along, though we're guessing its Her Royal Highness Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, just because she tends to be the one in the news more. If anyone makes it to Jinshan Beach (it's still open to the public) on Wednesday morning, make sure to make sure for us. more ›

• Shanghai Hongqiao and Shanghai Pudong are "destined" to be consolidated - though noone knows when the integration will happen. [Trading Markets]
• Paul French visits the Hong Kong Museum of History and has a few choice words to say about how Hong Kong compared back in the day. It was no Shanghai. [China Rhyming]
• You probably voted in their Best of Shanghai awards, now hit up That's Shanghai Best of Food & Drink voting section. [Urbanatomy]

Following the birth of 2009's first panda cub in Thailand (on May 29 at the Chiang Mai Zoo), Chinese experts have now expressed their intention to make sure the vitality of the father gets passed on to all the pandaettes in China. more ›

Due to the ongoing riots in Thailand, the Chinese government has issued a warning suggesting that tourists postpone their trips into the country. According to the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok, all Chinese travelers in the country are currently believed to be fine, but that the unstable political situation should be taken into account. Many tourism companies insisted they had modified their tours to stay away from places near the riots and could guarantee the safety of Chinese tourists, however they would refund delayed or canceled trips. Last week, the riots, carried out by supporters of ousted ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, forced the shutdown of the ASEAN convention and the quick evacuation of some of Asia's top leaders from the country. Yesterday, they escalated into violent confrontations with troops, leaving scores wounded and two dead. more ›

Air China, China Eastern and China Southern have dispatched special charter flights to bring home stranded Chinese tourists caught in Bangkok during the recent anti-government protests there. more ›

Due to the ongoing political turmoil in Bangkok, Shanghai's municipal tourism bureau has issued an order to travel agencies here to suspend all trips to Thailand pending further notice and to help all stranded Chinese tourists return as soon as flights resume. The Chinese Embassy has confirmed that up to 1,000 Chinese tourists have been left stranded in Thailand. A dispatch by the Associated Press on how the chaos at Suvarnabhumi Airport has struck a major blow to the Thai tourism industry quotes a 44 year old Shanghai-based French executive by the name of Fred Thierry as saying his company is now thinking twice about a new investment that was planned for Thailand due to its political instability. That investment may now be shifted to China. more ›

"China has deployed more than 8,000 soldiers and military reservists to help search and rescue efforts in the south-west after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 killed 38 people." more ›

"'As soon as we get it from Hong Kong and bring it over and unlock it.' ... Asked about claims that the new iPhones could not be hacked, he replied: 'The Chinese are very quick at unlocking iPhones. They used to say that the PSP couldn't be hacked as well, but we hacked it,' referring to Sony's PlayStation Portable game console." We believe the price they quote for an iPhone — 3,000 kuai — is for the earlier model. Story says new iPhones are going for upwards of US$860 in Thailand and US$600 in Hong Kong, where users must sign a two-year contract. [Source: IHT] more ›

Wonder if Scottish golfer Colin Montgomerie thought his whining about not getting an invite to play in next weekend's Masters Tournament (while lower ranked Asian golfers, including China's top player Liang Wenchong, did get special invites) would open up this can of worms. more ›