China is strongly opposed to illegal online gambling activities near its borders.

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China has a history of using its geopolitical influence in Asia to extract concessions from neighboring countries for its own benefit. One area where this is evident is gambling, particularly online gambling, which has been directly linked to human trafficking involving Chinese citizens.

China cautions neighbors to take tougher measures on illegal activity

China's persistent efforts have finally led the Philippines to shut down the Philippine Offshore Gambling Operator sector, which has been linked to various crimes, both alleged and confirmed. Recently, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, met with representatives from ten ASEAN countries in Beijing. He urged them to crack down on internet gambling and telecommunication fraud, especially operations linked to the Thai-Myanmar border. Wang emphasized the need for

to take decisive actions against activities deemed illegal by Beijing, which have adversely affected Chinese nationals. He stated, according to a statement cited by CCTV, the state media. Chinese media have extensively reported on human trafficking incidents linked to illegal gambling and telecommunications fraud, motivating Beijing to pursue stricter actions against neighboring countries it holds accountable. A case that attracted significant attention occurred in December, involving prominent Chinese actor Wang Xing, who was scammed by a criminal organization and forcibly taken to work in Thailand. This incident, widely covered by national and state media, prompted Thailand to launch a large-scale rescue operation, ultimately securing Wang's freedom.

Thailand and Myanmar need to step up to counteract crime

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has recognized the importance of combating illegal gambling operators and is committed to addressing such crimes. However, Myanmar also bears some responsibility, as at least five Hong Kong residents have been deceived or forcibly taken to work in the country against their will. China has named both countries and urged them to tackle these crimes, which have a direct impact on residents. Thailand is in the process of legalizing gambling and establishing casino resorts in an effort to curb illegal activities. Meanwhile, China remains diligent, expanding its efforts to combat illegal activities related to sports betting, casinos, and other gambling forms.