BANGKOK — A Chinese actor who went missing during a trip to Thailand has been identified as a victim of human trafficking, according to Thai police. Authorities reported on Wednesday that Wang Xing was located near the Myanmar border, an area notorious for online scam operations.
The situation escalated when Wang’s family sought assistance from the Chinese Embassy in Thailand after he failed to return home. Reports indicated that he had vanished at the Thailand-Myanmar border. Thai officials managed to find him on Tuesday across the border and subsequently brought him back to Thailand for further investigation. In images shown to the public, Wang was seen in the Thai town of Mae Sot, where he appeared with a shaved head while cooperating with the police.
Wang recounted that he had been deceived into believing he would be offered a job by a prominent Thai entertainment company. Instead, he was smuggled into Myanmar, where it is believed he was forced to participate in a call center scam targeting Chinese nationals, stated Senior Inspector General Thatchai Pitaneelaboot. This particular region has gained notoriety as a stronghold for criminal organizations that have coerced countless individuals across Southeast Asia into engaging in various online scams, including fraudulent romantic schemes and misleading investment opportunities. Many victims find themselves in conditions akin to virtual slavery, with some involvement in drug trafficking as well.
An analysis of the chat logs on Wang’s phone validated his account of the situation, as confirmed by Thatchai during an interview with Thai PBS TV. Wang mentioned to the authorities that around 50 other Chinese individuals were held in the same location, many of whom had also been forcibly shaved. He expressed fear about attempting to resist or flee from his captors.
Criminal enterprises have become rampant in the borderlands of Myanmar, which is currently under military rule. For years, these areas have been characterized by ongoing conflicts between armed ethnic groups and the national army. In response, Chinese officials have reported efforts to dismantle these syndicates through collaborative operations with adjacent countries, resulting in the return of thousands of individuals to China; however, such campaigns have yet to lead to the apprehension of senior ringleaders in Myanmar.
Chinese investors have taken advantage of the situation by establishing casino resorts in autonomous zones that operate with the assistance of Myanmar’s Border Guard Force, linked to the Karen ethnic group. Wang’s case gained significant attention after a social media user, claiming to be his girlfriend, posted an appeal for help on Chinese social platforms. Wang is recognized for his roles in popular Chinese television dramas.
In reaction to the ongoing situation, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra indicated on Tuesday that the government is doing everything possible to minimize any detriments this incident may pose to Thailand’s image as a safe tourist destination.
