China's Xi and Thailand's leader vow to crack down on scam networks that plague Southeast Asia
China’s leader Xi Jinping and visiting Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra have vowed to crack down on the scam networks that plague Southeast Asia as the two met in Beijing
BANGKOK — China's leader Xi Jinping and visiting Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra vowed to crack down on the scam networks that plague Southeast Asia as the two leaders met on Thursday in Beijing.
Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, which are south of China and share borders with Thailand, have became major centers of online scam operations where people lured by false advertising of well-paid jobs are trafficked to secretive compounds where they are forced to work by criminal groups that run online scams targeting people all over the world.
That has impacted Thailand’s reputation, as multiple high-profile stories of Chinese people being lured to work in Bangkok only to be trafficked into a scam compound in Myanmar have surfaced, with Chinese actor Wang Xing being the latest such victim.
Thai and Chinese officials have taken public steps to address the scam issue, including a reported visit to the border region by Liu Zhongyi, China’s vice minister of public security.
“China appreciates Thailand’s strong measures to combat online gambling fraud. Both sides should continue to strengthen law enforcement, security, and judicial cooperation," Xi said, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Paetongtarn echoed that, saying “Thailand is willing to strengthen law enforcement cooperation with China and other neighboring countries and take resolute and effective measures to combat cross-border crimes such as online gambling and fraud.”
Ahead of her visit, Thailand cut off electricity to some areas in Myanmar by its border to try to disrupt the
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