Wang Xing, a Chinese actor, was trafficked to Myanmar where he endured forced labor in online scams. This incident underscores a growing crisis, with an estimated 220,000 victims in similar situations across Southeast Asia. Young graduates are often targeted due to high unemployment. The incident has raised alarm among Chinese authorities, prompting warnings to citizens about recruitment scams. As a result, tourism from China to Thailand has significantly dropped, with cancellations and safety concerns causing a ripple effect in the region's economy, particularly ahead of the Lunar New Year.
The 31-year-old had flown to Bangkok for what he thought was a meeting with Thai movie executives. Instead, he was trafficked across the border.
Experts estimate that more than 220,000 trafficking victims from over 100 countries are held in pig-butchering scam operations in Myanmar and Cambodia alone.
Following Wang's ordeal, China's embassies in Thailand and Myanmar have warned their citizens to beware of recruitment scams, reflecting rising safety concerns.
Chinese tour bookings to Thailand have plummeted, with high-profile cancellations highlighting the deteriorating safety perception for Chinese tourists in Southeast Asia.
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