On Sunday, Chanin Pintong (director of the Rak Chart Party) and Chaiyaporn Jiravinitnan (party spokesman) visited UNESCO's Paris headquarters to express gratitude for the recognition of Thai cultural heritage, particularly the traditional costume known as Chud Thai. They urged UNESCO to apply stricter scrutiny in future heritage listings to ensure historical accuracy. Chanin emphasized that their visit aimed to protect Thai culture, which is increasingly vulnerable to misrepresentation. Chaiyaporn highlighted concerns over the fragile cultural landscape, where heritage could be at risk of being misappropriated. This initiative follows the Thai Ministry of Culture's submission of Chud Thai for recognition as an intangible cultural heritage item, expected to be reviewed later this year. The cultural landscape has seen tensions, particularly between Thai and Cambodian communities, regarding claims of cultural ownership, especially after Cambodia sought recognition for its traditional wedding ceremony and Khmer New Year festival. Thai cultural authorities have reassured the public that UNESCO's listing process is not about exclusive ownership but about recognizing cultural practices within communities. They cited examples of cooperation under UNESCO's framework, such as the joint nomination of kebaya attire by several Southeast Asian countries, and the separate registrations of Thailand’s Khon masked dance and Cambodia’s Lakhon Khol in 2018. Officials stress that transparency and respect for cultural diversity are essential as heritage nominations continue to expand in the region.