Sawt Falasteen - China's Xi hails Thailand's 'strong' action against scam centres

China is a hugely important market for Thailand as it seeks to rebuild its tourism sector in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

But many tourists have been spooked by reports of fellow Chinese visitors kidnapped and taken to scam centres in neighbouring Myanmar.

While meeting the Thai prime minister in Beijing, Xi said "China appreciates the strong measures taken by Thailand to combat online gambling and phone and online scams", state broadcaster CCTV reported.

"The two sides must continue to strengthen cooperation in security, law enforcement and judicial cooperation" in order to "protect people's lives and property", Xi added.

Thai authorities on Wednesday cut off the electricity supply to five areas in Myanmar where fraud centres are allegedly located.

Bangkok has described the scam centres as a "national security issue".

They have mushroomed in Myanmar's lawless borderlands, run by criminal gangs and staffed by trafficked foreigners who are forced to swindle their compatriots in an industry analysts say is worth billions of dollars.

In January, Chinese actor Wang Xing was reportedly rescued from a cyberfraud centre in Myanmar.

After his alleged kidnapping, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand during the Lunar New Year holiday sharply declined in comparison to previous years.

O.Salim--SF-PST