Thai Foreign Ministry informed China on Thursday that it would withdraw diplomatic passports of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra who is currently visiting Hong Kong.

The withdrawal meant that Thaksin would have to apply for visa to enter a foreign country, including China. A diplomatic passport allowed its holder to stay in 50 foreign countries without a visa.

Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsongkram informed his Chinese counterpart, Li Zhaoxing, during a bilateral meeting on the sideline of the Asean Summit in Cebu, Philippines.

Thai government decided to revoke "red cover" passports of the deposed prime minister and his wife, Khunying Pojaman, because much of his activities abroad were deemed politically related.

Moreover, the Thai Embassies abroad have been instructed to treat Thaksin and his family members as they would any ordinary Thai national, thus, denying the VIP treatment that he has been receiving.

Thaksin was in the US to the attend the annual UN General Assembly meeting when the military junta ousted him on September 19. After a few days in London, Thaksin started his visits to other destinations in East Asia, including Hong Kong, Beijing, Indonesia and a number of other countries.