Thailand’s online gig workers reminded to file income declaration

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PUBLISHED: 27 Jan 2025 at 18: 35

Food delivery riders pass near a condominium in Din Daeng district, Bangkok, in 2021. (Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut)
Food delivery users pass near a property in Din Daeng city, Bangkok, in 2021. ( Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut )

The state is reminding website gig workers, including independent workers, food supply riders, YouTubers and social media influencers, to record the 2024 individual income&nbsp, tax kind by March 31 or risk facing penalties such as fines of up to 200, 000 baht and/or seven years imprisonment.

All employees who run their businesses online may submit a detailed review of their revenue last year to the Revenue Department by March 31. That is according to Deputy state official Karom Phonphonklang, who announced on Monday.

However, those who plan to file their income declarations online through the Digital MyTax (D-MyTax ) platform, the department’s e-Filing channel or the RD Smart Tax app have until April 8 to submit their files.

Income which need to be declared include earnings received from business procedures, sales, fee and service fees.

Before the deadline, those who don’t file will be fined 2, 000 baht plus a 1 % monthly interest rate until the pronouncement is submitted.

Those who fail to register their files on purpose face up to one year in prison, fines of up to 200, 000 baht, or both, plus additional charges amounting to half the paid tax plus a 1.5 % monthly fee.

Those who provide misleading information are subject to fines of up to 200, 000 rmb and up to seven years in prison.

Mr. Karom claimed that the Revenue Department’s employees did not send download links or emails to taxpayers informing them of updates on the filing process.

Citizens with further inquiries can touch the Revenue Department’s RD Intelligence Center via the 1161 line or by visiting any Revenue Department location globally, according to Mr. Karom.

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DeepSeek shows Trump tariffs doomed to fail – Asia Times

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Foreign artificial intelligence business DeepSeek has shook world markets and challenged long-held beliefs about the usefulness of tariffs as a means of economic dominance. &nbsp,

A cost-effective AI model that runs on less-advanced chips, highlighted by its breakthrough, which poses a significant challenge for the United States: tariffs and other financial restrictions may no longer suffice to encircle and outpace China’s scientific rivals.

Revelations about DeepSeek’s low-cost success in the high-cost AI space&nbsp, rocked&nbsp, global technology stocks on Monday, with Nvidia’s shares down 9 % in premarket trading and Dutch high-end chip equipment maker&nbsp, ASML down&nbsp, as much as 11 %, according to breaking news reports.

Bloomberg reported the hitherto largely unheard-of startup ‘s&nbsp, AI assistant has &nbsp, rocketed&nbsp, to the top of the app download charts since it was released last week with capabilities widely&nbsp, seen as competitive with the likes of&nbsp, OpenAI, Google and&nbsp, Meta’s AI offerings. That, in turn, has called into question America’s supposed big lead over China in the AI culture.

Meanwhile, President Trump’s current threat to impose taxes as high as 60 % on imports underscores Washington’s rely on financial restrictions to sustain its global technical standing. Tariffs have been a key component of US efforts for years to stop China’s increase and maintain its position of dominance in important technology and other sectors. &nbsp,

However, DeepSeek’s success shows how rivals can develop around these measures, probably rendering them outdated. This success is a sign of a wider pattern. While the US has previously led in cutting-edge systems, China’s rapid development in AI and electronics is altering the balance of power. &nbsp,

By restricting China’s access to advanced cards, Washington probably aimed to slow its modern development. Alternatively, it has spurred Beijing to triple down on self-reliance, accelerating inventions that could release America’s hold on global supply chains.

DeepSeek’s milestone AI design is more than just a modern leap, it’s a tactical victory for China. It demonstrates how development can circumvent restrictions imposed by taxes and other financial tools.

Diminishing performance of taxes?

This change raises important questions about the US economic strategy’s coming. Tariffs could turn into relics of a bygone time if rivals could circumvent restrictions with more powerful alternatives.

Traditional uses for tariffs include imposing costs on rival companies, ensuring trade priorities, and safeguarding home industries. But, DeepSeek’s success casts question on whether these measures can also achieve their planned outcomes in an age of swift innovation. &nbsp,

China’s advancement was slowed by the US’s policy of restricting access to crucial tools like advanced semiconductors. Alternatively, it has good accelerated Beijing’s modern push, demonstrating the unintended consequences of an depending on disciplinary measures.

If more companies adopt DeepSeek’s strategy, the need for high-end US cards was drop, more eroding America’s liquidity in international markets. These outcomes now have a ripple effect.

The Nasdaq 100 has experienced strong falls, Western tech stocks are slipping, and market sentiment is a sign of growing unease over Silicon Valley’s ability to maintain its position as the leader in the Artificial supply chain.

Trump’s proposed 60 % tax danger highlights Washington’s battle to adapt its guidelines to a world that is increasingly defined by technical aplomb.

Although these steps may have the potential to strengthen the US, they also run the risk of isolating it from a rapidly expanding global business. Competitors like China are proving adept at finding ways to overpower financial and other considerations, leaving Washington’s techniques looking obsolete and responsive.

Day for a serious rethink

DeepSeek’s fall is a wake-up contact for US politicians. Tariffs may have once been a useful tool for shaping international business dynamics, but they are extremely unfit for the challenges of a world driven by development. If the US wants to maintain leadership in important industries, it must reevaluate its financial strategies.

More convincing approaches are encouraging domestic innovation, funding research and development, and encouraging international collaboration than doubling down on disciplinary measures.

The emphasis should move from imposing restrictions on rivals to fostering domestic growth and development. Without these modifications, the US runs the risk of losing ground in the world’s battle for modern supremacy.

DeepSeek’s victory is not just a step for China—it’s a reminder for America. If Washington continues to move on tariffs as its main tool of financial control, it will consider itself extremely sidelined in a world where development, not restriction, drives power, wealth and growth.

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The open secret behind DeepSeek’s success – Asia Times

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It has become popular among Western analysts to speculate about the economic “miracle “‘s demise.

Slowing development, a worried real estate sector, and demographic shifts are frequently used as indicators of the situation. This tale has been further fueled by conflicts with the US, particularly during the previous two services.

Yet the photo is far more complex. Washington has so far avoided the broadest taxes and actions that his campaign speech suggested were a done deal under the administration of President Donald Trump.

However, three times before his commencement, Trump remarked:” I anticipate that we will solve many issues along, starting straight away. We talked about business balance, Fentanyl, TikTok, and several different topics. President Xi and I will do everything in our power to improve peace and security around the world.

These remarks suggest an implicit acknowledgement that China’s market is evolving, no collapsing – and that the United States, despite its speech, understands Beijing’s structural swings.

State-led rise to private-sector vitality

China’s first success was really driven by export-led production and state-owned weighty industry. Now, more than 65 of the 69 Taiwanese companies on the Fortune Global 500 are state-owned.

In recent years, Beijing has pushed for SOE mergers to boost “national warriors”, particularly in strategic areas. At a glance, such deeds might strengthen the tale of status dominance.

Yet the earth is evidently shifting. In the late 1990s, state-owned enterprises ( SOEs ) accounted for more than half of China’s industrial output. Nowadays, they produce almost 30 %. Private companies have become the website of productivity gains and job creation in the economy.

More than 60 % of GDP and more than 50 % of tax revenue are now made up by private companies. Consumption, long overshadowed by investment and exports, has risen in importance – from 35 % of GDP a decade ago to nearly 55 % by 2023.

By enabling greater access to medical facilities and improved funding options, innovative policies support private players. The goal is simple: maintain proper state control while utilizing the private sector’s vitality.

DeepSeek: technology with Chinese features

An example of this private-sector vitality is DeepSeek, founded by hedge fund manager Liang Wenfeng. A groundbreaking AI system developed on a relatively small budget, the company recently unveiled its R1 large language model ( LLM).

DeepSeek’s path challenges the notion that Chinese businesses rely only on state-driven technology. Instead, its story highlights the ability of the private sector to overcome local obstacles and physical limitations.

DeepSeek made novel teaching methods and “pure reasoning capabilities” without any controlled data, while rejecting the usual model of enormous resource investment seen in America. This is a step taken in the direction of an impressive path that deviates quickly from European norms.

DeepSeek developed unique marketing techniques to completely apply less strong GPUs, a miracle that has surprised US researchers because of hardware restrictions imposed by sanctions.

Using only 2, 048 Nvidia H800 GPUs and US$ 5.6 million, it trained a unit with 671 billion guidelines – close to efforts by British giants like as OpenAI and Google, which usually spend multiples of that number.

For Beijing, modern self-reliance has long been an economic feature of strategic goal. At a recent conference of companies with Premier Li Qiang, China’s second-most powerful chief, the communication was blunt:” Focus efforts to break through key main systems”.

DeepSeek’s victory coincides with this perspective. The company’s “local-first” method, which places its employees with PhDs from Foreign universities, best exemplifies Beijing’s wider plan to cut down on foreign tech while cultivating local talent. It is a part of a larger effort to create a self-sustaining development ecosystem that can withstand forces from both the world and the world.

From council lines to systems

Yet now, China’s economic development is usually misconstrued as a shift away from production. In fact, it is a move up the value chain.

The region continues to utilize its great developing skills, built over years, to occupy high-tech sectors such as renewable energy, electric cars and AI. DeepSeek’s increase mirrors the broader path of corporations like Huawei and ByteDance, which have transformed from followers into global entrepreneurs.

At the same time, China leads the world in AI-related patents and boasts one of the largest pools of graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. More than 40 % of GDP is made up of the country’s digital economy, led by e-commerce giants Alibaba and JD.com.

Newcomers like DeepSeek are pushing the limits by demonstrating that even global-scale AI can be produced on smaller budgets when combined with the right combination of technical expertise and business acumen.

One of the most critical, yet sometimes overlooked, aspects of China’s continued economic strength is its unrivaled industrial and production base. This ecosystem, painstakingly built over decades of export-led growth, is not simply about low-cost assembly.

It is a vast, integrated network of suppliers, logistics hubs, specialized clusters and infrastructure that supports a range of high-value industries.

  1. Scale and Integration
    China’s network of factories is unmatched in terms of breadth and depth. From basic components to sophisticated semiconductor machinery, the country’s supply chain spans virtually every sector. Clusters of specialized suppliers allow companies to iterate quickly, reduce costs, and rapidly scale up production. This structural advantage has proven invaluable in high-growth areas like electric vehicles, batteries, and consumer electronics.
  2. Robust Infrastructure
    A highly effective transportation network that streamlines the flow of goods has been the result of massive public investments in roads, rails, and ports. China has a lot to do with maintaining its reputation as the “world’s factory” because of its ability to move large amounts of materials across long distances at affordable prices. In turn, this infrastructure underpins the development of cutting-edge sectors—from biotech to AI hardware.
  3. Economies of Scale and Rapid Prototyping
    Nowhere else can businesses move as quickly and affordably from concept to mass production as they can in China. Thanks to a dense network of component suppliers, R&amp, D centers, and testing facilities, Chinese firms can compress development cycles, a vital advantage in fast-moving fields such as renewables and advanced electronics. This synergy fuels innovation by allowing ideas to be tested, refined, and brought to market quickly.
  4. Policy Support for Upgrading
    Beijing actively promotes the modernization of traditional manufacturing. Initiatives like” Made in China 2025″ channel resources into high-tech industries, including robotics, aerospace, and new energy vehicles. These regulations also promote collaboration between SOEs and private companies, fostering innovation while protecting crucial sectors. The end result is a manufacturing ecosystem that is constantly moving up the value chain, as demonstrated by the success of businesses like DeepSeek, which profit from local suppliers of AI hardware and services.

This industrial backbone is more than just a piece of China’s past; it serves as a fundamental framework for the onset of its economic transformation. Companies developing large language models, EV batteries, or green technologies can tap into a powerful base of suppliers, technicians, and engineers, enabling them to iterate faster and scale more efficiently than competitors elsewhere.

China’s ability to move toward cutting-edge industries without giving up its manufacturing roots is supported by this synergy.

Against this backdrop, predictions of China’s imminent downfall appear short-sighted. The country’s current challenges, such as high youth unemployment and the real estate sector’s recalibration, are significant but not unique. When at comparable stages of development, major economies have experienced similar transitions.

When America’s GDP was roughly China’s current size, it grew at an average of 2.4 % annually. By contrast, China posted growth rates of 5.4 % in 2023, 5 % in 2024 and is projected to maintain 4%-5 % growth through 2025.

These figures, while lower than the double-digit expansions of the past, remain impressive for an economy of China’s scale. And with a GDP per capita of$ 12, 970 – significantly below the U. S. level of$ 83, 000 – China still has ample room for” catch-up” growth, especially as it invests more in education, innovation and domestic consumption.

Moreover, even incremental growth in a$ 17 trillion economy adds substantially to global GDP. Beijing appears committed to laying the groundwork for a more stable economic model, one that is more in tune with the burgeoning middle class of some 400 million people, by embracing structural reforms, encouraging private sector innovation, and unlocking household wealth.

Made in the USA, remade in China

Dismissing China’s economy as having “peaked” overlooks its ongoing metamorphosis. The growth of businesses like DeepSeek highlights the entrepreneurial spirit of China’s private sector in fostering innovation and overcoming constraints from outside.

The accomplishments of DeepSeek serve as a framework for a wider narrative of resilience, where challenges are neither insurmountable nor a sign of unavoidable decline.

A more nuanced perspective reveals China’s transition from an export-driven, investment-heavy model to one centered on domestic consumption and technological innovation. Its extensive manufacturing base is being upgraded and redeployed to support a high-tech future, far from being abandoned.

This evolution is a sign of China’s resilience, ingenuity, and capacity for reinvention, traits that continue to shape the opportunities for others in the global economy.

Marcus Loh is a director at Temus, a Singapore-based company that offers digital transformation services. He is responsible for Step IT Up’s business affairs, marketing, and strategic communications.

He was formerly the Institute of Public Relations of Singapore’s President, and he is currently a member of the SG Tech, the largest trade association for Singapore’s technology sector ,’s digital transformation chapter.

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DeepSeek: Chinese AI model overtakes ChatGPT to top app charts

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DeepSeek, the top-rated free app on Apple’s App Store in the US, UK, and China, has overtaken ChatGPT and another AI competitors.

Since its January release, the app has soared in popularity, challenging the widely held notion that America is the invincible head of the Artificial industry.

It is powered by the open-source DeepSeek-V3 design, which its scientists say was developed for less than$ 6m- significantly less than the trillions spent by competitors.

However, others in the AI storage have disputed this assertion.

After DeepSeek-R1 was launched earlier this month the company boasted of “performance on par with” one of ChatGPT maker OpenAI’s latest models – when used for tasks such as maths, coding and natural language reasoning.

Silicon Valley venture capitalist and Donald Trump advisor Marc Andreessen described DeepSeek-R1 as “AI’s Sputnik moment”, in a reference to the first artificial Earth satellite that was launched by the Soviet Union in 1957.

Advanced bits enable AI types like DeepSeek and ChatGPT to be trained.

However, the US government has tightened its ban on selling sophisticated cards to China since 2021.

Chinese AI engineers have shared their labor with each other and experimented with new techniques to the systems in order to continue their work without constant supplies of imported developed chips.

As a result, AI types now require significantly less processing power than they did before. Additionally, it means that they cost significantly less than what was formerly believed possible, which has the ability to destroy the sector.

Shares in AI-related firms based in the US, such as Nvidia, Microsoft and Meta were lower on Monday morning.

According to some estimates, DeepSeek training will cost less than the typical US AI companies.

Vey-Sern Ling, a Singapore-based technology capital advisor, told the BBC:” It could possibly undermine the investment case for the entire Artificial supply chain, which is driven by substantial spending from a small number of hyperscalers.

Citi, a major bank on Wall Street, warned that while DeepSeek may challenge the strong positions of American companies, such as OpenAI, Chinese firms ‘ issues might hinder their growth.

” We estimate that in an undoubtedly more stringent environment, US ‘ access to more sophisticated chips is an benefit”, its analysts said in a statement.

Last week, a consortium of US tech firms and foreign investors announced The Stargate Project, a company which is putting $500bn into AI infrastructure in Texas.

The company was founded in 2023 by Liang Wenfeng in Hangzhou, a city in southeastern China.

The 40-year-old, an information and electronic engineering graduate, also founded the hedge fund that backed DeepSeek.

He reportedly built up a store of Nvida A100 chips, now banned from export to China. Experts believe this collection – which some estimates put at 50,000 – led him to launch DeepSeek, by pairing these chips with cheaper, lower-end ones that are still available to import.

Mr. Liang recently attended a meeting between industry experts and the Chinese premier Li Qiang.

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Say no to ‘chaos’: China’s national table tennis team disbands fan clubs amid toxic fandom crackdown

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China’s federal table tennis team has made the decision to dissolve all of its athletes ‘ official social media fan pages in order to combat toxic fans, which has raised a problem that has arisen in both sports and leisure.

The Chinese Table Tennis Association ( CTTA ) and the country’s national team “unanimously decided” on the move, citing how such “fan circles” have negatively affected the sport, local news site China Sport Daily reported on Saturday ( Jan 25 ).

According to the organization, fans have” torn each other apart”, provoking confrontations and fight, engaging in taunts and slander, as well as spreading speculations and assaults.

Such violent behavior” really deviates from the initial intention of sports and has had a negative social impact,” according to CTTA.

” The web is not a violent spot”, the association more remarked. ” We must respect ( the ) coaches, athletes and referees. We shouldn’t be able to do what we want under the false pretense of “love” and” help”

Not focusing on specific cases was the declaration made by CTTA. However, it comes after some Chinese paddles voiced their disapproval of overzealous fans and as a result of some high-profile incidents at the Paris 2012 Olympics.

Wang Chuqin, a Taiwanese table tennis player, was surrounded by supporters at Beijing Capital Airport on December 28. As a local news outlet reported on January 15, China Daily was contacted. According to the report, he was clearly frustrated when devices were thrown in his mouth.

On December 15, his brother star rower and brother star kayaker Fan Zhendong posted a video on the blogging site Weibo that depicts throngs of supporters circling an elevator as they try to take photos and videos of him. &nbsp,

” I appreciate you all for your help, but there are better methods and events to display it.” Be true to your route and honor others ‘ boundaries. I sincerely ask for fans ‘ understanding and respect”, Fan wrote.

The 28-year-old recently told state broadcaster CCTV he has been “harmed by lover society”, which even undermined the national team’s unity, the state-run Global Times reported in August last month.

When Sun Yingsha lost to her Chinese compatriot Chen Meng at the 2024 Paris Olympics, another notable incident involving misbehaving fans occurred.

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Be upfront about Chinese New Year surcharges, consumer watchdog tells retailers

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LOW SALES AT Fair

Some stalls at the monthly Chinese New Year fair in Chinatown are slashing prices in a last-ditch try to brush in some profit, yet as consumers are shopping for must-have products regardless of what they cost.

This comes amid bad business, which sellers attributed to the persistent rain. &nbsp,

Sales have decreased by 30 % this year, according to those who also hawked their goods last year.

” I used to only sell one for Singapore$ 1. I’m currently selling eight for$ 1. If I don’t do this nobody will buy. Now … It is selling a lot”, said one stallholder selling decorations. &nbsp,

The Chinatown Festivals Committee hopes that sales will increase following its annual countdown on Tuesday night.

” Right after the countdown party, there’s also going to be a lot of amazing promotions, and we really hope to encourage more Singaporeans to come here and do last-minute Chinese New Year shopping”, said the committee’s head of public relations Luo Chen Jun. &nbsp,

While stalls close at 10.30pm daily, some will stay open until 1am on the fair’s final day on Tuesday.

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BII, FMO and SUSI partners team up to support SEA’s energy transition | FinanceAsia

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British International Investment ( BII ), the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor, has announced the launch of Sustainable Asia Renewable Assets ( SARA ), a new utility-scale renewable energy platform. SUSI Partners and Dutch growth bank FMO have been co-founded by SARA.

¬ Plaza Media Limited. All rights reserved.

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Japan’s Fuji TV: Top executives resign after Masahiro Nakai sex scandal

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In response to a sexual misconduct claim made against a well-known TV host, the chairman and president of one of Japan’s biggest network, Fuji TV, resigned.

The system, which was criticized for trying to cover up the controversy, has since removed thousands of company advertisements.

Masahiro Nakai was accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a 2023 dinner party allegedly organised by Fuji TV staff. He announced his retirement from show business last week.

Fuji TV needs to regain the trust of viewers and sponsors, according to the Chinese government.

Shuji Kano, leader of Fuji TV, and Koichi Minato, both gave a press conference on Monday to make their resignations known. It arrived soon after a board meeting of disaster.

They thanked viewers and stakeholders for the problem and worry caused by a controversy that has shaken Japan’s entertainment sector.

” I feel deeply the fat of my duty for undermining confidence in the media,” said Mr. Minato. ” Looking back, I realise there were deficiencies in our answer”.

Mr. Minato had earlier acknowledged that the business was aware of the allegations against Nakai immediately after the alleged incident occurred. However, Fuji Television made the decision to not reveal it at the moment because he had argued that it prioritized the woman’s physical and mental healing as well as the safety of her privacy.

Nakai reportedly paid the unnamed woman more than$ 500,000 last month. Therefore more allegations surfaced that a Fuji TV staff had assisted in the dinner party’s planning.

Nakai, a well-known face and former participant of the child group SMAP, has denied using violence against the person. He has also said that he had “resolved” the problem with her through a lawsuit.

However, this failed to suppress open resentment.

Nissan and Toyota, two automakers, were among those that canceled Fuji TV’s marketing.

The incident “exposes major flaws in your business governance,” according to investment firm Rising Sun Management, the majority shareholder in the parent company of Fuji TV.

Since then, Fuji Television has established an impartial panel to look into the incident.

Executive vice president Kenji Shimizu, who did succeed Mr. Minato as president, stated that he would “never bear deeds that violate human rights” and would work with Mr. Minato to start from scratch in order to stop similar situations.

The community suspended a regular show hosted by Nakai earlier this month, and other major systems have even dropped the reporter.

Following rumors that similar dinner events involving stars are a popular practice in the industry, other TV networks have made their own investigations public.

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