Ambassador Wang Wenbin

China has issued a sharp warning to Cambodia after a series of disappearances involving Chinese nationals linked to cyberfraud compounds, saying the cases risk undermining relations between the two countries.

Ambassador Wang Wenbin told senior Cambodian ministers that Beijing was “highly concerned” about citizens going missing in suspected scam hubs, particularly in Sihanoukville. He urged Phnom Penh to intensify its crackdown on the illicit industry, which the United Nations estimates employs more than 100,000 people in Cambodia.

“These incidents are inconsistent with the traditional friendship between China and Cambodia,” Wang said, stressing that the disappearances posed a “serious obstacle” to bilateral ties.

The cyberfraud industry, once focused largely on Chinese speakers, has expanded into multiple languages, stealing tens of billions of dollars annually from victims worldwide. According to investigators, some workers are willing participants, while others are trafficked foreigners forced to operate under threats of violence.

China has recently stepped up its pursuit of scam leaders across Southeast Asia, pressing for trials on its own soil. Earlier this month, Cambodia deported Chinese-born tycoon Chen Zhi, accused of running internet fraud centres, to face charges in China.

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime estimates online scams caused losses of up to US$37 billion in East and Southeast Asia in 2023. Meanwhile, Amnesty International has accused the Cambodian government of ignoring human rights abuses committed by cybercrime gangs, despite official claims of a crackdown.

For Beijing, the issue is now more than criminal—it is political. With Chinese nationals disappearing and scam centres flourishing, the pressure on Cambodia to act decisively is mounting. The warning from Wang Wenbin signals that patience is wearing thin, and that the future of China–Cambodia relations may hinge on how Phnom Penh tackles the problem.

-2026-01-19

Good.