Northern Myanmar was originally an underdeveloped agricultural region, and some areas there lacked even basic infrastructure, with local populations being predominantly humble farmers. However, this place immediately transformed once it is connected to China's criminal activities and underground economy. Skyscrapers sprouted from flat land, and crimes spread ubiquitously. The world first knew about similar things that happened in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, followed by the Philippines, and later the northern region of Myanmar.
In China, an influencer goes by the name "Myanmar Haibo" and is known for his talks about Northern Myanmar, with his most striking topic being the illegal organ trade. Soon after, many influencers specifically discussing Norther Myanmar started to emerge in Chinese cyberspace. Some of these were scammers, while others claimed to be anti-scammers. One of them claimed to be the "only person who escaped from Myawaddy" and said, "300,000 Chinese people are trapped in Northern Myanmar as scam slave labor". The same person also stated there are two ways to leave Myawaddy: one is obediently engaging in what is called the works of "grey industry", and the other is to find two people under 30 years old to come over. "No one has ever walked out of Myawaddy alive", he remarked. Some from Northern Myanmar accuse China of turning the place into a land of crimes.
Issues related to northern Myanmar have transformed into a viral subject that propels online engagement in China. As a result, capitalizing on this theme has effectively evolved into an online influencer industry, allowing some to generate income across various platforms. At the same time, this has emerged as a substantial revenue stream for a range of clandestine enterprises in the Northern Myanmar region. To elucidate the truth, we have examined a plethora of scattered information circulating currently. This process involves sifting through a considerable amount of misinformation to uncover a more precise image of what happened in Northern Myanmar.
1. "Telecom fraud", a grey industry in China, has now evolved into a thriving industry with considerable scale and branches out extensively. It now involves the highly intricate underground economy, ranging from human trafficking, organ and drug trade, as well as activities on online platforms. Originally rooted in places like the Philippines and Cambodia, it later shifted to Myanmar and Thailand, surprisingly becoming a significant component of the underground economy associated with the Belt and Road Initiative.
2. The present surge in what's dubbed "telecom fraud" is primarily orchestrated by Chinese individuals, particularly those from Fujian province. Initially introduced to Mainland China by scammers from Taiwan, this fraudulent practice was later adopted by certain unlawful entities in places like Fujian, where it took hold. A notable proportion of participants and organizers within both Chinese and international fraudulent groups are from Fujian. Just this year, the leader of a telecom fraud syndicate in Northern Myanmar was apprehended by Chinese authorities. Originating from Fujian, this group employed exceedingly ruthless tactics. Remarkably, all five family members of the head of the syndicate were implicated in these fraudulent activities. Official data reveals they had illicitly amassed over RMB 2 billion. In the Myanmar-based operations, the initial operators and investors hailed from Fujian, later joined by other individuals from regions like Northeast China.
3. What is termed "parks" or "zones" in Northern Myanmar actually refers to clusters of settlements, and within these settlements, there are multiple parks. This type of "park settlement" encompasses areas like Muse, Tachileik, Kokang, Wa State, and Myawaddy.
4. Among all the settlements, Myawaddy is the most notorious, where the Chinese target their fellow countrymen. Within the area, there exist dozens of parks, around 50 or more, with the largest companies there having around 300-400 employees. KK Park Zone, which gained infamy in China through the sensational portrayals by online celebrities of the country, is merely one of the parks in Myawaddy. Others include Asia-Pacific City and Apollo.
5. The Myawaddy region is located in Kayin State, under the jurisdiction of the Karen Border Guard Force (BGF). This area operates under a semi-autonomous status, while the Karen BGF holds a substantial stake in all the parks it controls, merely concerned with financial gains while disregarding internal affairs. Additionally, the Myawaddy region is situated near the border of Thailand, and it receives resources like electricity from Thailand.
6. China nationals have lower status in Myanmar and Thailand, Chinese individuals unfortunately face challenging circumstances, with instances of internal exploitation. Within companies affiliated with these parks, once someone becomes involved, leaving may prove challenging. Those of Chinese origin who engage in these activities are sometimes referred to with derogatory terms, indicating a lack of recognition of their humanity.
7. Myawaddy is the harshest among several telecom scam parks. Some local Chinese act as translators there, earning a normal wage of around RMB 6000 per month. This wage is not exactly high, even for those in managerial roles. The so-called "high income" is a deception designed to encourage and incentivize a few Chinese individuals to take risky paths.
8. Transportation to Myawaddy is relatively complex. From Bangkok Airport, one must cross a border guarded by the Thai military and traverse a border river, taking around 7 to 10 hours to reach the park. The situation is similar when traveling from Yangon to other parks. Along the way, there are numerous checkpoints with armed soldiers and police personnel. If foreigners are detected, they are immediately sent back, restricted from proceeding further. They must return to where they came from; passage is strictly prohibited.
9. The vast majority of Chinese individuals who go to Myawaddy do so voluntarily and are not coerced. Many might be facing difficulties or challenges in their lives back in China and are seeking an escape. Others are drawn by the allure of "high income", even if they're aware of the risks and are willing to take a chance. Because the journey is lengthy and border crossings are closed, these people often rely on illegal means to reach to their destination, without leaving any entry or exit records. Once something goes wrong, no one knows about it, and they are left vulnerable to exploitation.
10. For local residents in Myanmar who wish to leave a company or a park, they need to pay a compensation of THB 60,000, roughly RMB 12,000. Upon entry, contracts are signed, and failure to adhere to the contract requires "compensation". For Chinese nationals, as foreigners, to leave, each person needs to pay the company and park THB 1.5 million, approximately RMB 300,000 to 400,000. This payment might "possibly" allow one to leave, but even after paying, there is no certainty of it. It's possible that right after leaving one company, the individual might be "snatched" by another company. In these parks, human trafficking frequently occurs and constitutes a major business. Due to significant anti-fraud pressure from the Chinese government, these parks have even resorted to deceiving people from countries like India into engaging in human trafficking.
11. Within these parks, physical violence and abuse, including beatings and electric shocks, are considered to be mild forms of punishment. More severe actions involve the outright disappearance of the victims. This is especially true if the victims lack performance, defy orders, or fail to provide compensation. Those who operate within these parks often come across bodies, mainly those of Chinese nationals. Since these Chinese go there voluntarily and often by unrecorded illegal means, practically no one is aware of their presence.
12. The highly sensationalized claims circulating on the Chinese internet about a so-called "open sea medical ship" involving the illicit trade of organs might not necessarily be true. This is especially the case in remote areas like Myawaddy where transportation is challenging. Considering the transportation situation, the feasibility of such activities, whether on the shores of Thailand or Myanmar, appears to be unlikely. However, in other regions, particularly within the medical field of Thailand, it remains uncertain whether such channels for organ trafficking have been established.
13. Thailand's immigration department and detention facilities are primarily populated by Chinese individuals, constituting a group that typically maintains a size of around several hundred people. Chinese detainees within immigration prisons often endure mistreatment; there have been reports that they are charged fees for filling out forms, taking a breath of fresh air outside, and making a phone call—virtually every action becomes a subject of extortion and payment. It appears that criminal activities across the region are becoming increasingly overt, posing a threat to the safety and regular economic activities of Chinese nationals there.
Looking at the situation in Northern Myanmar, the issues are intricate and multifaceted. They involve the influence of traditional geopolitics, various countries' intelligence agencies, border trade and ethnic concerns, political and economic matters, transnational criminal activities, and underground economic operations. However, it is important to note that such instances of criminal activities have significant implications for China's international reputation. Additionally, the disconnect and disparity between China's internal propaganda and the real world have reached a disconcerting level. The rest of the world is acutely aware of this discrepancy, leading to a growing disdain for Chinese nationals, and Chinese nationals being manipulated in the region, while China's national strength is virtually powerless against it.
Final analysis conclusion:
The escalating criminal activities involving Chinese individuals in the Northern Myanmar region are becoming increasingly serious. These issues are intricate and multifaceted, influenced by traditional geopolitical activities, the impact of various countries' intelligence agencies, border trade and ethnic matters, political and economic considerations, transnational criminal activities, and underground economic operations. Of significant concern is the fact that these criminal activities, primarily directed by Chinese individuals against fellow Chinese, hold considerable implications for China's reputation and standing in the world.
