Just a few days into 2025, the incident involving young Chinese actor Wang Xing, who was lured to Thailand under the guise of "film work" and then trafficked to the Myawaddy scam park in Myanmar, where he eventually went missing, has drawn widespread attention across Southeast Asia and internationally.
This case has shaken Chinese society, making people aware of the darkness in Southeast Asia, and has also thrown Thailand into a whirlpool of international public opinion.
With massive online calls for help from Chinese netizens and intervention by the Chinese government, the Thai government acted swiftly, and Wang Xing was eventually rescued.
This incident has unveiled a shocking criminal network involving telecom fraud and human trafficking. As more similar cases are exposed, including incidents involving Hong Kong artist Xie Yuepeng and other Chinese tourists, the Thai government has responded under public pressure.
For instance, the Thai government quickly announced measures to strengthen border security, and the Prime Minister, Pei Tongtan, promised to "prevent becoming a crime transit hub" and proposed policies that might include designating border exclusion zones. Meanwhile, the Thai National Tourism Authority also issued a statement emphasizing the importance of ensuring tourist safety.
However, whether these measures can truly combat the criminal network remains to be seen. Currently, tourism to Thailand has been severely impacted!
Why is Thailand still criticized despite quickly rescuing Wang Xing? One issue is whether the Thai government is truly making an effort to combat border telecom fraud and human trafficking.
Despite the Thai government's active measures on the surface, doubts persist. The telecom scam parks along the Thai-Myanmar border heavily rely on Thailand for supplies, internet, and transportation support. This means that if the Thai government fully pressures, it could directly impact the operation of these parks. However, these criminal activities seem to have been tacitly "approved" or even "protected" for a long time.
More tragically, many people sold to high-risk telecom fraud areas in Myanmar, such as Myawaddy, are transported through Thailand. Thailand is indeed a transit station in this criminal chain!
However, Professor Pinkaew Luengaramsri from Chiang Mai University bluntly states that Thailand cannot simply position itself as a "transit station" and victim, but must face the hidden human trafficking interests in its border towns.
Especially through the Wang Xing incident, we can see that the Thai side can act swiftly to rescue those trapped at critical moments, showing its influence over the parks!
The question is, why does Thailand only mobilize resources under international pressure?
This raises doubts about whether there are "insiders" within the Thai system, and some speculate that there may be complex relationships between border corruption and criminal groups.
So, what role does Thailand play in the telecom fraud chain?
Thailand plays a dual role in the Southeast Asian telecom fraud chain: both as a transit station and a crucial hub.
Firstly, geographically, Thailand shares a long border with Myanmar, especially areas like Myawaddy, which have become centers of criminal park activities. These areas are not only necessary paths for human trafficking but also logistical support bases for the fraud networks.
Secondly, Thailand's developed tourism industry hosts a large number of tourists annually, providing cover for criminal groups. In recent years, criminals have frequently used "job opportunities" or "tourist invitations" to lure targets to Thailand, then illegally transport them across the border.
Additionally, as an important economic center in Southeast Asia, Thailand's communication and financial networks also indirectly support the operation of scam parks. For example, SIM cards and bank cards needed for some scam activities might flow into Myanmar through Thailand.
If Thailand were to strike hard, could it eradicate this transnational criminal chain? The answer is not simple.
On one hand, Thailand indeed holds key resources and geographical advantages. If the Thai government strictly controls the border, cutting off logistics and network support to the parks, it would be a significant blow to the criminal groups. Thailand could also cooperate with victim countries like China to implement joint law enforcement actions against cross-border crimes.
On the other hand, real obstacles cannot be ignored. The civil war in Myanmar has led to a loss of control in parts of the country, providing natural shelters for criminal groups. Even if Thailand intensifies its efforts, it is difficult to eliminate the root problem. Additionally, complex interest chains within Thailand and corruption in border areas may become major obstacles to enforcement actions.
Recently, the Thai government announced the installation of barbed wire in border areas, especially in vulnerable spots. Today, there are also reports from netizens that Thai police are strictly inspecting the Mekong River!
Today, all river crossings have been completely stopped, with specific reopening times to be announced. Together with the emergency border policies recently enacted, these can be seen as Thailand putting more effort into combating telecom fraud. But how long this can last or whether it will achieve significant results remains unknown!
Ultimately, the Wang Xing incident is just the tip of the iceberg in the Southeast Asian telecom fraud chain. To fundamentally solve the problem, Thailand needs to show greater political will and action. However, Thailand alone is clearly insufficient to eradicate this transnational criminal network. This not only requires cooperation from regional countries but also a joint effort from the international community.
Whether Thailand will truly face the issue or is limited to "crisis PR" remains to be seen over time.
