China’s Targeted Anti-Scam Campaign Creates Dilemma for Southeast Asia

Public anxiety over scam compounds along the Cambodian and Myanmar borders emerged as a key political issue in Thailand’s February 2026 election. Organised criminal networks — many linked to mainland Chinese actors — have been increasingly accused of coercing victims into cyber fraud. And questions continue to proliferate around how anti-scam efforts are constrained by political actors with ties to Chinese capital, criminal networks and markets — fuelling local demands for ‘clean politics’.

This political debate in Thailand unfolded within the context of China’s intensifying campaign against transnational cyber scams in Southeast Asia. A new phase began on 12 November 2025 with Thailand’s extradition of She Zhijiang — a Chinese national accused of building a vast illegal online gambling and fraud empire across Southeast Asia — to China after more than three years of legal challenges.

The timing of She’s extradition was politically significant. It came shortly before King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s landmark state visit to Beijing, underscoring how anti-scam enforcement has become intertwined with regional diplomacy and security cooperation.

She is widely regarded as a central figure behind some of Southeast Asia’s most notorious scam hubs, particularly Myanmar’s Shwe Kokko project near the Thai border. Promoted as a resort city for Chinese tourists, Shwe Kokko has instead become associated with online fraud, money laundering and human trafficking. If convicted in China, She could face severe penalties, including the death sentence. His extradition reinforced Beijing’s claim of ‘zero tolerance’ for organised scams and signalled its willingness to pursue high-profile figures beyond its borders.

Yet China’s anti-scam campaign cannot be understood solely through law enforcement and extradition. Domestic social mobilisation has been equally important. The 2023 blockbuster No More Bets marked a turning point in Chinese public perceptions of online scams. By depicting the brutality of scam compounds in Southeast Asia, it turned cyber fraud from an abstract criminal risk into an immediate personal threat. The film heightened anxiety among Chinese travellers, prompting Southeast Asian governments — particularly Thailand — to address concerns over reputational damage and tourism.

Source : China’s selective anti-scam campaign poses a paradox for Southeast Asia