Bai Zhaodong is a Chinese journalist who fled China in 2023. He is currently being held in detention by Thailand's Immigration Bureau at the Suan Phlu Immigration Detention Centre in Bangkok, awaiting further response from Thai authorities.
Media advocacy groups such as Reporters Without Borders, Safeguard Defenders (RSF) are actively urging Thai authorities to release the journalist, whilst Beijing insists that the journalist be deported back to China for conviction. Media advocacy groups see this as a massive issue, as they claim this is a massive concern for the journalist's safety, as he risks not only conviction but also possible torture back in China. RSF claims that Bai Zhaodong covered a story on corruption and financial fraud carried out by local Chinese authorities and members of the Chinese Communist Party, who, in retaliation, are attempting to apply criminal charges against the journalist.
Thai authorities have yet to decide on the situation; the weight of this situation is heavy, as Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is currently headed for China and is scheduled to personally meet President Xi Jinping for AI discussions. If the situation is not resolved by then, this potentially affect the meeting, and cause slight heat between the two nations.