Lawmaker Exposes Scheme Converting Chinese Children to Thai Citizens

On July 15, 2569, at 13:50 at Parliament, Piyarat Jongthep, a Pheu Thai party list MP, disclosed a scheme involving Chinese nationals obtaining Thai citizenship through private hospitals and district officials. He described it as another instance revealing corruption in Thailand's bureaucracy and public health system, particularly regarding the citizenship registration process. Piyarat noted this is significant because police are conducting cleanup operations against the network, with arrests totaling over 70 billion baht in asset seizures that have extended to suspects' families. In one case, a suspect's wife received money into her account, and although she had three children, all three became Thai citizens, prompting further investigation.

Piyarat disclosed details of another similar case involving a Chinese woman who gave birth in Thailand. The case involves a sixth private hospital in the Rama 9 area. According to the birth certificate provided by a well-intentioned official, the child is a girl with the surname Tang, born to a Chinese mother. The registered father is listed as a 22-year-old Thai national, while the mother is 36 years old. The birth occurred in July 2566 and was reported by hospital staff who handled the registration directly with district officials.

Piyarat questioned whether the hospital offered a package service where staff would arrange birth registration at the district office after delivery. The certificate submitted to obtain the birth certificate lacked even a birth notification form, yet the district registrar signed off alone, despite procedures requiring signatures from both the operating officer and the registrar. This suggests the registrar took full responsibility. The girl now has Thai nationality and would be two years old if still in Thailand. Although her father is Thai, she is ethnically Chinese through her mother, making it highly likely she was a surrogate arrangement given the father's extensive criminal record. Police are currently pursuing the case.

Piyarat called for three actions: First, the scheme has operated since 2566 and may have continued for years with coordination between government officials and private hospital staff. Second, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, as Interior Minister overseeing civil registration, cannot avoid responsibility and must establish a committee to investigate all involved agencies, as no investigation process has been visible. Third, regarding Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt and relevant officials, action is needed to prevent Chinese mothers from taking children out of the country.