China lauds Thailand's efforts in tackling online gambling fraud and scams

February 6, 2025

China lauds Thailand's efforts in tackling online gambling fraud and scams

Chinese President Xi Jinping praised Thailand’s strong measures against online gambling fraud and telecom scams, calling for closer cooperation between the two nations to tackle cross-border crimes. He expressed his views during his meeting with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra in Beijing on Thursday (6 February 2025).

This is the Thai leader’s first official visit to China since taking office in August 2024, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

“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.

The issue of online fraud has been in focus recently, with Thailand facing pressure to address safety concerns following high-profile cases of Chinese nationals being trafficked to scam centres in neighbouring Myanmar after being lured through Thailand. Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, which are south of China and share borders with Thailand, have become major centres 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.

The recent rescue of Chinese actor Wang Xing from such a facility has heightened the urgency of tackling these operations. Ahead of the Thai PM’s Beijing visit, Thailand cut off electricity to some areas in Myanmar by its border to try to disrupt the operations of the scam compounds. The effect of that is unclear as the compounds often have their own generators.

Paetongtarn assured that Thailand prioritises public and tourist safety and is committed to working with China to combat transnational crimes. She said, “Thailand is willing to strengthen law enforcement cooperation with China and other neighbouring countries and take resolute and effective measures to combat cross-border crimes such as online gambling and fraud.”

ในโอกาสมาเยือนสาธารณรัฐประชาชนจีนอย่างเป็นทางการ เช้าวันนี้ ดิฉันได้เข้าเยี่ยมคารวะประธานาธิบดีสี จิ้นผิง ณ มหาศาลาประชาชน กรุงปักกิ่ง ได้แสดงความยินดีที่ความสัมพันธ์ไทย – จีน ซึ่งสถาปนาความสัมพันธ์ทางการทูตเมื่อ 50 ปีก่อน… pic.twitter.com/94Q3OeYLhS
— Ing Shin (@ingshin) February 6, 2025

During the meeting, Jinping also focused on deepening strategic ties and expanding collaboration in various sectors, including the digital economy and electric vehicles. “In the face of unprecedented changes not seen for 100 years, China and Thailand should deepen mutual trust over strategic interests and firmly support each other,” Xi said, as quoted by state broadcaster CCTV.

On other bilateral issues, Xi said China was willing to work on a new railway project between the countries. On Tuesday, Thailand approved a $10 billion railway project that will eventually connect Bangkok to the Laos-China high-speed railway. He also said they hoped to deepen cooperation in electric vehicles, with Thailand being an emerging market for Chinese automakers.

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