Days after an investigation was launched into the collapse of a Chinese company-built high-rise in Bangkok, Beijing has censored references to the incident on the country’s internet.
The partially constructed skyscraper was the only building to completely crumble after an earthquake in Myanmar shook the Thai capital. The structure, which was meant to house Thailand’s State Audit Office, collapsed within seconds, sending a massive cloud of dust into the air.
Censorship on Chinese platforms
According to an ABC News report, searches for terms like “Bangkok” and “tower” on Chinese social media platforms did not return any results related to the collapsed building. Reports from Chinese state media on the incident were also unavailable. Additionally, China Railway Number 10 removed all posts about the construction from its WeChat account.
Probe into Chinese-built high-rise collapse
Experts have raised concerns over the structural integrity of the collapsed building, which was being developed for Thailand’s State Audit Office (SAO). Reports indicate the construction had been ongoing for three years at a cost of over two billion baht ($58 million) and was led by a Chinese company.
The SAO building was a joint project between Italian-Thai Development Plc (ITD) and China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Ltd, according to a Telegraph report. The latter, a subsidiary of China Railway Number 10 Engineering Group Company, owns a 49 percent stake in the project—the maximum foreign ownership allowed under Thai law. Established in 2018, China Railway Number 10 Thailand has been involved in several major infrastructure projects, including railways, office buildings, and public roads.
