Controversy Over Thai Prime Minister Wearing Red Socks at Summit

Criticism from some quarters: "Color tone is inappropriate"
Government side: "Please focus on the discussion, not the attire"

Attention is drawn to Srettha Thavisin, the Prime Minister of Thailand, who showcased a 'bold fashion' on the diplomatic stage.

According to local Thai media such as Thai PBS and The Nation on the 25th (local time), Prime Minister Srettha held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on the 17th during his visit to China.

On that day, Prime Minister Srettha wore a blue suit, a light pink tie, and dark pink socks. This contrasted with President Putin’s monochromatic suit attire.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin of Thailand
[Photo by Yonhap News]

This sparked debate within Thailand. Some commentators criticized, "The Prime Minister should have chosen a more appropriate color tone on the global diplomatic stage."

They meant that wearing bright primary colors such as red and pink at a solemn occasion is inappropriate. Even if the fashion reflected the Prime Minister’s personal taste, insisting on it on the diplomatic stage was seen as a disappointing act.

In fact, Prime Minister Srettha is known as a long-time fan of Liverpool FC, a prestigious English Premier League football club. He has always worn red socks for 20 to 30 years, with red symbolizing Liverpool.

However, in response to such criticism, the Thai government urged focus on the content of the talks rather than appearances. Government spokesperson Chai Watcharung said, "We hope the focus will be on the discussions and national interests, not on attire during overseas visits."

Some also defended that, as Prime Minister Srettha comes from a business background, relatively free attire might be fitting.

Prime Minister Srettha previously served as chairman of 'Sansiri,' a major Thai real estate development company. He debuted on the political stage ahead of the Thai general election in May.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Srettha has showcased bold fashion several times. He wore red socks during talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the 21st, and also wore red socks and a tie at the United Nations General Assembly held in New York last month.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.