310: Chapter 310 Bangkok Sunset

Dusk in Bangkok always comes quickly.

The sun sets from the direction of the Chao Phraya River, dyeing the entire city in gold. The spires of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha shimmer in the sunset, just as they did sixty years ago.

Prayut stands before the window of the Government House, looking at that expanse of gold.

Sixty years ago, he was still a child, following his father on the streets of Bangkok, watching American and European cars whiz by. At that time, Thailand did not yet have its own automobile industry.

In 1962, Toyota came.

Then came Nissan, Honda, Mitsubishi, and Isuzu.

The Japanese spent sixty years turning Thailand into the 'Detroit of Asia'—producing two million cars a year, accounting for 12% of Thailand's GDP, and supporting one million workers.

Prayut remembers that thirty years ago, when he first walked into a Toyota factory and looked at the precision machinery on the assembly line, he thought to himself: When will Thailand be able to build its own cars?

Thirty years have passed.

Thailand still cannot build its own cars.

The voice of Industry Minister Suriya came from behind: 'Prime Minister, the quote from Xingchen has arrived.'

Prayut turned around.

Suriya held a document in his hand, his face wearing a complex expression—both excited and apprehensive.

'New energy vehicle factory, power battery factory, a total investment of 8 billion US dollars. They also promised to help Thailand build a complete ecosystem, from charging networks to battery recycling.'

Prayut took the document and scanned it quickly.

Then he asked: 'What does Japan say?'

Suriya was silent for two seconds.

'Toyota just announced they will invest 1.8 billion US dollars in Indonesia to build electric vehicles. Not Thailand, but Indonesia.'

Prayut's gaze turned cold.

9:30 AM, Embassy of Japan in Thailand.

Ambassador Kasai sat on the sofa in the reception room, his hands folded on his knees, his posture as upright as if he were attending a funeral.

He is sixty years old and has been in Thailand for five years, believing he understands this country and its leaders well enough.

But at this moment, he finds that his understanding might be worthless.

Prayut sat opposite him, his expression calm, showing no emotion.

'Your Excellency Prime Minister, the Japanese government attaches great importance to its relationship with Thailand.' Kasai worded his statement carefully, every word deliberated, 'Toyota has just decided to make an additional investment of 50 billion yen in Thailand, to be used for...'

Prayut raised his hand to interrupt him.

'Mr. Ambassador, is the additional 50 billion yen for building electric vehicles?'

Kasai was stunned.

'Is it to continue building fuel-powered cars, or to build electric vehicles?'

Kasai opened his mouth but found himself unable to answer.

50 billion yen is about 300 million US dollars. It is a sky-high price for ordinary people, but for the automotive industry, it is just a drizzle.

More importantly, this money is indeed for continuing to build fuel-powered cars.

Prayut smiled.

There was no mockery in that smile, only a complex sense of emotion.

'Mr. Ambassador, Japan has invested in Thailand for sixty years. I am very grateful.'

He stood up and walked to the window.

'But over the past ten years, what have Japanese car companies done? They continue to sell fuel-powered cars, continue to earn money from Thailand, and continue to keep electric vehicles in Japan.'

He turned around and looked at Kasai.

'Now, Xingchen has arrived. They are willing to move electric vehicle factories, battery factories, charging networks, and technical training to Thailand. They don't want us to wait sixty years; they only need three years.'

Kasai wanted to say something else, but Prayut raised his hand to interrupt.

'Mr. Ambassador, please tell Tokyo: Thailand has waited sixty years. Now, we don't want to wait anymore.'

11:00 AM, Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Prayut's motorcade drove onto the tarmac.

A Thai Airways special plane was on standby, and the boarding stairs had already been lowered. The entourage stood by the plane—the Minister of Industry, the Minister of Energy, the Secretary-General of the Board of Investment, and fifteen technical and negotiation experts.

Before boarding, Prayut looked back.

Outside the tarmac, a black sedan was parked quietly. The window was half-open, and through the gap, one could see the face of Japanese Ambassador Kasai.

There was no expression on that face.

Prayut did not wave; he turned and boarded the plane.

When the special plane landed, the sun was scorching. The heat haze on the runway distorted the scenery in the distance.

Prayut stepped out of the cabin and took a deep breath.

The air in Shenzhen was more humid than in Bangkok, carrying the scent of the sea breeze.

On the tarmac, two people were waiting.

A middle-aged man in a light-colored shirt and glasses—Spark Power President Zhang Zhen, and the other was Xingchen International President Lin Wan.

Lin Wan stepped forward quickly to shake hands: 'Prime Minister Prayut, welcome. Mr. Su is waiting for you at the headquarters.'

Prayut's handshake was firm: 'Ms. Lin, Thailand is not here for a visit; we are here to sign a contract.'

Lin Wan smiled: 'Then let's go straight to the headquarters.'

In the Xingchen Headquarters conference room, both teams sat at the long table.

Thai side: Industry Minister Suriya, Minister of Energy, Secretary-General of the Board of Investment...

Xingchen side: Su Chen, Lin Wan, Xingchen Automotive President Gu Yanting, Spark Power President Zhang Zhen...

Prayut did not engage in small talk and spoke directly.

'Mr. Su, Thailand does not just want a factory. Thailand wants to become the electric vehicle manufacturing center of ASEAN.'

Su Chen nodded.

'That is possible.'

Prayut was taken aback.

He had expected some haggling, round after round of tug-of-war. After all, this was an 8 billion US dollar deal involving the industrial transformation of the entire country.

But Su Chen's answer was only two words.

'So straightforward?'

Su Chen smiled.

'Mr. Prime Minister, Xingchen's 'ASEAN Industrial Plan' already includes Thailand. Indonesia produces battery materials, Thailand does vehicle manufacturing, and Vietnam handles chips and electronics. This is the most reasonable division of labor.'

He signaled for Gu Yanting to open the projector.

On the big screen, a map of Southeast Asia slowly unfolded.

Xingchen-ASEAN Automotive Industrial Layout

Thailand: Vehicle Manufacturing Center, annual production of 1 million vehicles

Indonesia: Battery materials plus battery manufacturing, supplying the entire ASEAN

Vietnam: Automotive electronics plus chips, smart cockpits, controllers

Malaysia: Semiconductor design plus software

Philippines: Nickel raw materials plus photovoltaic charging

Prayut stared at the screen, his eyes brightening.

This was the first time he had seen someone treat the entire ASEAN as a game of chess.

5:00 PM, Gu Yanting stood up and walked to the projector.

He is forty-eight years old, President of Xingchen Automotive, and a senior expert in the Chinese automotive industry. His voice was steady, his speaking speed moderate, and every sentence was supported by data.

'Prime Minister Prayut, Xingchen plans to build a new energy vehicle factory in Rayong Province with an annual output of 300,000 vehicles.'

The big screen displayed the data:

Investment: 5 billion US dollars

Capacity: 300,000 vehicles per year, expandable to 500,000.

Models: Electric SUVs, electric pickup trucks, designed specifically for the ASEAN market.

Export: 60% exported to ASEAN and Australia, 40% sold domestically in Thailand.

Employment: 15,000 direct jobs, 60,000 indirect jobs.

Localization rate: 40% in the first year, 70% in the third year.

Industry Minister Suriya asked: 'What about technology transfer?'

Gu Yanting was well prepared.

'Vehicle platform technology, electric powertrain technology, smart cockpit technology, all authorized to the Thai joint venture company. Core IP will not be transferred, but we can help Thailand build an R&D center and train 5,000 engineers within five years.'

Suriya looked at Prayut.

Prayut nodded slightly.

'That is acceptable.'

6:00 PM, both sides began negotiations around the power battery factory.

Zhang Zhen stood up.

He is fifty years old, his hair is already somewhat gray, and he is one of the early executives of Spark Power. His style is more direct and sharper than Gu Yanting's.

'Mr. Prime Minister, Xingchen plans to build a power battery factory in Chachoengsao Province with an annual output of 50 gigawatt-hours.'

Big screen data:

Investment: 3 billion US dollars

Capacity: 50 gigawatt-hours per year, enough to support 1 million electric vehicles.

Technology: Xingchen's most advanced 'Bedrock 3' lithium iron phosphate, optimized for tropical climates.

Employment: 8,000 direct jobs, 30,000 indirect jobs.

Supply: 60% supplied to Thai vehicle factories, 40% exported to ASEAN.

The Minister of Energy asked: 'What about battery recycling?'

Zhang Zhen nodded.

'Xingchen provides a full set of battery recycling technology. There will be a recycling center next to the factory, where 95% of materials can be recycled.'

Prayut nodded with satisfaction.