PUBLISHED : 17 Jan 2025 at 09:06
BEIJING – In a significant call to action, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged Southeast Asian nations to intensify efforts against the growing issues of online gambling and telecom fraud. In a statement released by the Foreign Ministry, Wang emphasized the need for relevant countries to take responsibility amid a surge of fraud incidents near the Thai-Myanmar border that have endangered citizens from China and beyond.
Wang’s remarks came during a rare meeting with regional envoys, where he expressed China’s willingness to bolster cooperation in law enforcement and security with ASEAN nations to ensure a safe environment for travelers from all nations.
The push for enhanced security collaboration highlights Beijing’s deepening concern over the alarming rise in telecom scams and human trafficking in Southeast Asia. This development reflects an urgent need for coordinated efforts among the ten-member ASEAN bloc, which includes Myanmar and Thailand, to combat cross-border criminal activities.
Chinese tourists, who traditionally contributed billions to the Southeast Asian economy before the COVID-19 pandemic, are crucial for the region’s tourism revenue. However, escalating fears about trafficking and alarming narratives shared on social media regarding tourists being targeted by criminal gangs could potentially discourage future travel.
In a disturbing incident, Chinese actor Wang Xing, also known as Xingxing, was recently located in Myanmar after going missing near the Thai-Myanmar border. Thai authorities indicated that they suspect he fell victim to human trafficking.
Reports highlight that overseas fraud syndicates have lured Chinese citizens with enticing promises of lucrative jobs, housing, and travel arrangements, only to confine them in telecom fraud operations in towns like Myawaddy, which borders Thailand.
In response to these challenges, Thai policymakers have committed to expediting efforts to address perceptions that threaten Thailand’s reputation as a safe tourism destination, as noted by state media. Previous actions include Thailand’s facilitation of the return of approximately 900 Chinese nationals trapped in scam operations in Myawaddy last year and Myanmar’s handover of 31,000 telecom fraud suspects to China in 2023.
