How a viral post saved a Chinese actor from Myanmar's scam centres

Wang Xing, a small-time actor from China, recently found himself in a terrifying situation while in Thailand. He went missing for two days, prompting his girlfriend to seek help online. On January 5, she posted on Weibo, a popular Chinese social media platform, saying, 'We have no choice but to borrow the power of the internet to amplify our voices. ' This heartfelt plea quickly gained traction, as many prominent Chinese celebrities, including singer Lay Zhang and actress Qin Lan, shared it. As a result, Wang's plight captured the attention of the public and the Chinese government. On January 7, he was rescued from a scam center in Myanmar, bringing a wave of relief to his loved ones and supporters. However, this swift and somewhat mysterious rescue raised concerns about the fate of others who remain trapped in similar scam centers. Wang's case serves as a grim reminder of the thriving criminal enterprises that ensnare countless individuals, forcing them into cybercrime. Families of other Chinese nationals believed to be held in these compounds have begun a petition urging their government to take action on their behalf. The petition, which is being shared online, allows anyone to fill in details about their missing loved ones. The number of reported cases has surged from an initial 174 to over 600, and it continues to grow. Wang informed the police that he was not alone; approximately 50 other Chinese nationals were also held in the same location. One popular comment on Weibo expressed the desperation felt by many: 'We are desperate to know if the remaining Chinese nationals [who were] with him have been rescued. ' The sentiment echoed the belief that every life matters. On September 6, 1,207 suspects, including 41 fugitives, were handed over from northern Myanmar to China. Wang went missing on January 3 in Mae Sot, a border city in Thailand that has become a hub for human trafficking into Myanmar. He had traveled to Bangkok for an acting job he found on WeChat, where someone claimed to represent a major Thai entertainment company. Wang later recounted that he had previously worked in Thailand around 2018 and did not suspect anything was amiss. However, he was picked up in a car and taken to Myanmar, where he was forcibly shaved and trained to scam people over the phone. His girlfriend and brother attempted to locate him and involve the police, but their efforts yielded little success. The Chinese police had not yet registered a case, and the embassy in Thailand merely advised Wang's family to approach the local police in Mae Sot. As discussions about Wang's disappearance intensified on Chinese social media, authorities began to take action. The case was finally registered, and the embassy stated that they were treating it with great importance. The following day, Thai and Chinese officials announced that Wang had been rescued. His first public appearance was alongside Thai police, but he remained mostly silent, allowing officials to explain the situation. Details surrounding the rescue itself have been scarce, with officials not disclosing which scam center Wang had been held in, leading to conflicting accounts of the events. One possible reason for this lack of information could be that keeping certain details confidential was part of the agreement that facilitated his release, according to a source who has previously rescued individuals from scam centers. This source, who wished to remain anonymous, explained that these scam centers are eager to avoid drawing attention to their operations. Consequently, releasing Wang was deemed a better option than risking the entire operation due to the heightened scrutiny surrounding his disappearance. In 2023, hundreds of suspects from a scam compound were transferred from Myanmar to China. The Chinese government is keen to quell discussions about Wang's case, wanting its citizens to believe that it has taken sufficient action and that scam centers along its border are no longer a significant issue. A joint operation by China and ethnic insurgent groups in 2023 aimed to shut down scam centers in Myanmar's Shan State. However, NGOs and independent rescuers on the ground report that scams are still proliferating, with construction expanding into even more remote areas. The border region with Thailand has become a primary center for international scams in Myanmar, taking advantage of partnerships with various armed groups vying for control in the area. New scam compounds have been established south of Myawaddy, near the Thai border, where reports of forced labor and other abuses are becoming increasingly common. This situation has placed immense pressure on Thailand, which heavily relies on tourism, particularly from China. Wang's case has led some Chinese individuals to question the safety of traveling to Thailand. A popular post on Weibo stated, 'It feels like after this Wang Xing incident, there will be fewer people going to Southeast Asia, including Thailand. ' While Wang's rescue may be seen as a success for Thai officials and a victory for Beijing, it has not put an end to the ongoing discussions about scam compounds. Recently, lines from an interview with Wang went viral on Weibo, where he mentioned that he could not eat much food in Myanmar and had little time to use the toilet. Thai police have emphasized that no Thai individuals were involved in Wang's trafficking. His brief disappearance has highlighted the growing danger faced by others in the Chinese film industry, as many have shared their own experiences of being deceived by scammers offering jobs in Thailand. Thai police are now investigating the case of another Chinese model who disappeared at the Thai-Myanmar border after being promised work in Thailand. The China Federation of Radio and Television Association released a statement expressing concern, noting that many actors have fallen victim to fake job offers abroad, resulting in serious harm to their personal and financial security. Wang's girlfriend urged people on Weibo to save him from danger and to bring to life the story of No More Bets, a film about individuals being rescued from scam centers. Wang, like the characters in the movie, is among the fortunate few who managed to escape, while hundreds of thousands of victims from China, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Singapore remain trapped in sprawling scam compounds with little hope of rescue. As the Lunar New Year approaches, when many Chinese tourists are expected to visit Thailand, the Thai government is eager to emphasize that the country is a safe destination. Thai police continue to assert that no Thais were involved in Wang's trafficking. Wang, who has just been freed from his ordeal, reportedly has no concerns about returning to Thailand, and a police officer stated that Wang has promised to come back.