In the Philippines, a senator named Risa Hontiveros has urged China to do more against the illegal online gambling and scam call centers operated by Chinese criminal groups in Southeast Asia. These syndicates often exploit forced labor to carry out online scams, including fake romances, investment fraud, and illicit gambling, according to the U.N. human rights office. Hontiveros emphasized the need for stronger international cooperation to combat cybercrime, as these criminal activities undermine the rule of law and potentially facilitate espionage, although direct links to Chinese surveillance have not been proven.
The senator revealed that several Chinese gambling establishments, shut down by Philippine authorities, were located near a Philippine air force base where American forces have permission to operate, as well as close to a residential area housing American diplomats and military personnel. This comes as China has expressed concerns over increased U.S. military presence in Asia, particularly in the Philippines, a traditional ally of the United States.
Reportedly, there are over 400 Chinese-run online gambling hubs in the Philippines, employing thousands of Chinese and Southeast Asian individuals, many of whom were trafficked into the country illegally. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently imposed a ban on online gambling, citing various crimes associated with the industry such as financial fraud, human trafficking, and even murder. Despite China’s prohibition on gambling, a significant number of clients using the online platforms in the Philippines are mainland Chinese citizens who disregard their government’s restrictions.
Hontiveros criticized China for not taking sufficient action given its significant influence and power. She highlighted the importance of regional and international cooperation in holding social media companies accountable for enabling illicit operations. Meanwhile, Chinese authorities have stated that they collaborated with Filipino counterparts to dismantle illegal online gambling and scam networks, leading to the rescue of numerous individuals who were coerced into participating in these criminal activities.
Furthermore, Hontiveros mentioned that lucrative online gambling operations geared towards Chinese nationals have thrived in other Southeast Asian countries aligned with China, like Cambodia and Myanmar. In the Philippines, corruption within government regulatory bodies and alleged bribes to officials have fueled the growth of the online gambling industry. The dismissal of a town mayor in Tarlac province, Alice Guo, was linked to an illegal online gambling complex, and she is also accused of falsifying Filipino citizenship to run for public office in 2022. Guo attempted to evade authorities and was eventually apprehended in Indonesia before being deported back to Manila, where she remains in custody and denies any wrongdoing.