Thaksin has spent most of his time since the coup in self-imposed exile in Britain, where he bought and then sold Manchester City football club. -- PHOTO: AFP
BEIJING - BEIJING confirmed on Tuesday that ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra had been in China recently as he seeks a new home following Britain's decision to revoke his visa.
'Mr Thaksin was in China on vacation. I don't have any further information on that,' foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters when asked about reports Thaksin was in China.
Thaksin, toppled in a military coup in September 2006, was last month sentenced in absentia to two years in jail by a Thai court for conflict of interest after helping his wife buy state-owned land when he was premier.
He is now believed to be searching for asylum in another country to avoid facing justice back home.
That search apparently brought him to Beijing.
The state-run China Daily newspaper quoted Thaksin as saying in a Monday telephone interview that he was preparing to leave China.
'I will keep travelling. I'm leaving Beijing at the moment,' he said.
Thaksin has spent most of his time since the coup in self-imposed exile in Britain, where he bought and then sold Manchester City football club.
He returned to Thailand in February this year but swiftly fled again in August after his wife was sentenced to three years in jail for tax evasion.
However, Britain recently revoked his visa, without explaining why.
Thai authorities vowed this week to press for his extradition no matter where he ends up.
Philippine President Gloria Arroyo's spokesman said on Monday that Thaksin would be turned away if he applied for asylum there amid reports in Thai media that the island nation was next on his itinerary.
The Bahamas, Bermuda and several countries in Africa that are not believed to have extradition agreements with Thailand have reportedly offered to take in Thaksin and his wife Pojaman.
Thaksin's aides in Thailand told AFP he may head for the United Arab Emirates. -- AFP
