Chinese Actor Vanishes Near Thai-Myanmar Border

[webfact]

Picture courtesy: Naewna

 

A Chinese actor, Xingxing, has mysteriously vanished after being lured to Thailand under the guise of a film shoot, sparking concern and calls for intervention. The actor, whose real name is Wang Xing, was last heard from by his girlfriend in the border town of Mae Sot, Thailand, an area notorious for illegal activities including internet fraud and human trafficking.

 

The disturbing sequence began when Xingxing received what appeared to be a legitimate casting call via a group chat of actors. After successfully auditioning and coordinating details with a supposed production manager on WeChat, he made his way to Thailand, leaving Shanghai on the afternoon of January 3, reported Naewna newspaper Global Times.

 

His journey took him from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok to the town of Mae Sot, situated at the border with Myanmar, facilitated by a vehicle arranged by the purported coordinator.

His girlfriend, known on Chinese social media as Jiajia, maintained contact with him until noon Beijing time on the same day (11 a.m. local time in Thailand). She was perplexed to discover through their communications that he was headed towards the Thai province of Tak. Concern turned to alarm when communication ceased altogether.

 

In desperation, Jiajia sought assistance from the Shanghai Public Security Bureau and the Chinese Embassy in Thailand. The Chinese Consulate General in Chiang Mai confirmed receiving an appeal from Xingxing's family on January 3, shortly after his disappearance was noticed.

 

Their involvement highlights the severity of the situation, as Mae Sot is perilously close to Myanmar's town of Myawaddy, a notorious hotspot for nefarious cross-border activities.

 

A representative from the consulate assured that they are actively addressing the situation, offering guidance on handling procedures and maintaining ongoing communication with Xingxing's family. “We are committed to following up on the case in line with relevant regulations, to safeguard the safety and legal rights of Chinese citizens under our jurisdiction,” stated the consular staff.

 

Jiajia, having arrived in Thailand herself, is now taking further steps by seeking assistance directly from the Chinese embassy in Bangkok. Her resolve remains steadfast as she annals plans to engage Thai authorities in hopes of tracing Xingxing’s whereabouts.

 

As the story unfolds, the incident underscores the vulnerability actors face from deceptive schemes in the digital age. Xingxing's disappearance is a chilling reminder of these perils, highlighting the urgent need for awareness and precaution within global artistic circles. This haunting mystery envelops not just those in the entertainment industry but concerns anyone susceptible to such fraudulent enticements, reported Thai Newsroom .

 

-- 2025-01-06

 

 

[Tailwagsdog]

People from Communist China disappear all the time ...they are kidnapped by the Communist Govt or by Gangs for Ransom or by Moneylenders for unpaid debts. It's a never ending story ....

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, Tailwagsdog said:

People from Communist China disappear all the time ...they are kidnapped by the Communist Govt or by Gangs for Ransom or by Moneylenders for unpaid debts. It's a never ending story ....

I don't think he's destined for an acting role or call centre job... wait for the ransom call

[The Old Bull]

2 hours ago, Tailwagsdog said:

People from Communist China disappear all the time ...they are kidnapped by the Communist Govt or by Gangs for Ransom or by Moneylenders for unpaid debts. It's a never ending story ....

A weak attempt to demonize China by calling them communist. Deng Xiaoping's reforms moved them away from Marxism. What they have is a one party system set up so the rich cannot buy the election like in the US.

[Watawattana]

2 hours ago, The Old Bull said:

A weak attempt to demonize China by calling them communist. Deng Xiaoping's reforms moved them away from Marxism. What they have is a one party system set up so the rich cannot buy the election like in the US.

Most western governments and media outlets do the same, brainwashing the illiterate into believing it's true.

 

Oh wait, it is true isn't it?  Fox told me...

[snoop1130]

Chinese actor’s real-life drama ends on Thai-Myanmar border

 

Picture courtesy of Matichon

 

By Bob Scott

 

A Chinese actor has been found after mysteriously vanishing without a trace yesterday on the Thai-Myanmar border in a real-life plot twist befitting a film. The disappearance of Wang Xing, famously known as Xingxing, sent shockwaves across social media, lighting up concerns about safety in Southeast Asia.

 

Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra confirmed today, January 7, that Wang was discovered by Myanmar officials and is slated to be handed over to Thai police sometime later today.

 

The actor’s dramatic vanishing act began in Mae Sot, a town on the Thai side of the border, where he had allegedly travelled for a television shoot. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance are as murky as the plot of the blockbuster Chinese film No More Bets, which eerily mirrors Wang’s ordeal.

 

In the movie, released in 2023, characters are lured to a scam centre under false pretenses, an uncanny resemblance to Wang’s recent escapade, a fact that has not escaped the attention of concerned netizens.

 

Speculations swirled on Chinese social media, with theories ranging from kidnapping to forced labour in Myanmar’s scam operations. Wang’s girlfriend added to the frenzy, revealing that contact was lost when he boarded a vehicle from Bangkok.

 

Bloomberg reported that the incident has Thai officials walking on eggshells, mindful of the impact on tourism, particularly among Chinese travellers who are yet to return to pre-Covid-19 levels.

 

Thailand’s Tourism Minister, Sorawong Thienthong, expressed confidence in swift recovery.

 

“We will handle this issue with care to minimise impact on tourism.”

 

 

The minister emphasised efforts to restore Chinese tourists’ confidence and sought assistance from the Chinese ambassador in dispelling the perception of Thailand as a hazardous destination.

 

Wang has yet to comment on his mysterious disappearance but a gaunt photo of him has emerged with a shaven head, leading to netizens suspecting he was kidnapped after landing in Bangkok with a full head of hair.

 

Thai officials are on high alert, pledging to investigate whether Wang was innocently lured or deceived from the onset. This incident underscores ongoing concerns about the billion-dollar cyber scam industry operating across Southeast Asia, especially in regions like Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar.

 

According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, these fraud operations, often run by Chinese fugitives amidst Myanmar’s civil unrest post-2021 coup, frequently exploit human trafficking victims. Many operators fled China in 2020 after clampdowns at home, finding refuge in Myanmar’s increasingly lawless territories.

 

Only days before, China Central Television reported Myanmar’s extradition of 41,000 individuals implicated in telecom scams back to China last year. As Beijing cracks down on this shadowy industry that has siphoned billions, the ripple effects are felt across the region.

 

For Thailand, which leans heavily on tourism, particularly from its Chinese neighbours, the safe return of Wang is crucial, not just for the actor’s well-being but for the perception of the country as a secure travel destination.

 

Prime Minister Shinawatra dismissed the unsafe rumours as not true.

 

“There have been many rumours blown up on social media about Thailand being unsafe.”

 

As Wang prepares to return to Thailand from his dramatic ordeal, all eyes remain on the investigation.

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2025-01-07

 

 

[Luuk Chaai]

21 hours ago, The Old Bull said:

A weak attempt to demonize China by calling them communist. Deng Xiaoping's reforms moved them away from Marxism. What they have is a one party system 

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQBXQfa868sKzw-iddw9ImPHrFOqSolLd12DQfmnUHmyc-nlP_kIL7i9RakllinL1QQcTo&usqp=CAU

[NoDisplayName]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The actor’s dramatic vanishing act began in Mae Sot, a town on the Thai side of the border, where he had allegedly travelled for a television shoot. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance are as murky as the plot of the blockbuster Chinese film No More Bets, which eerily mirrors Wang’s ordeal.

 

Nothing suspicious here.

 

I'm just surprised he didn't claim one of his captors put a rope around his neck and yelled out "this is MAGA country!"

 

[Geoffggi]

Possibly a film publicity stunt, it sounds iffy to me 

[rwill]

Worried about getting more tourists from China which is currently dealing with a HMPV outbreak.

[hotchilli]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Bloomberg reported that the incident has Thai officials walking on eggshells, mindful of the impact on tourism, particularly among Chinese travellers who are yet to return to pre-Covid-19 levels.

 

Thailand’s Tourism Minister, Sorawong Thienthong, expressed confidence in swift recovery.

 

“We will handle this issue with care to minimise impact on tourism.”

Just had to slip that one in...

[klauskunkel]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

“We will handle this issue with care to minimise impact on tourism.”

You could also handle the issue forcefully to exterminate the parasites and minimize future impact on tourism, just a thought...

[Watawattana]

3 hours ago, rwill said:

Worried about getting more tourists from China which is currently dealing with a HMPV outbreak.

I thought HMPV is a seasonal upper respiratory virus that is no worse than common flu and not just restricted to China?  I read it was first detected in Europe over 20 years ago.  Is this another weak attempt to demonize China?  To not let the truth get in the way of politics?