China and ASEAN Leaders Discuss Cybercrime, Online Scams, and Regional Cooperation in ASEAN Visit

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Thai Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul in Bangkok on Tuesday, focusing on strengthening bilateral cooperation to combat transnational cybercrime and online scams, according to official statements from both sides.

The meeting, which took place during Wang Yi’s official visit to Thailand, underscored growing concerns among Southeast Asian nations about the rise of cross-border cybercriminal networks, particularly those involved in telecom fraud and online scam operations targeting citizens across the region.

Both officials emphasized the need for enhanced intelligence sharing, joint law enforcement operations, and closer coordination between their respective ministries to dismantle criminal syndicates operating across borders.

Wang Yi reiterated China’s commitment to deepening practical cooperation with ASEAN members in combating cybercrime, noting that recent joint operations have already yielded results in disrupting illegal online gambling and fraudulent schemes.

Anutin Charnvirakul welcomed China’s continued engagement, stating that Thailand remains committed to working closely with Beijing and other regional partners to address shared security challenges in the digital domain.

The discussions come amid a broader regional push to strengthen cybersecurity cooperation, following a ministerial-level meeting in Kunming, China, in November 2025, where China and five ASEAN nations — Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam — agreed to deepen coordinated efforts against transnational cybercrime and telecommunications fraud.

At that Kunming meeting, participating countries pledged to expand multinational joint operations, establish more regular coordination mechanisms, increase information sharing, and continue the repatriation and handover of individuals involved in cross-border scam operations.

China’s Ministry of Public Security described the Kunming talks as an important milestone in law enforcement cooperation among the six countries, highlighting progress in building joint mechanisms to counter increasingly sophisticated criminal networks.

Regional officials have repeatedly cited the interconnected nature of Southeast Asia’s digital economies as a factor enabling criminal enterprises to exploit gaps in national legal frameworks, necessitating a collective response.

Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan previously warned that scams and other cybercrimes would continue to take advantage of the region’s digital interconnectivity, stressing that only a coordinated approach could effectively counter such threats.

Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has also emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in combating online scams, addressing misinformation, and promoting responsible use of artificial intelligence, particularly in the context of the ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting.

The latest talks between Wang Yi and Anutin Charnvirakul reflect ongoing efforts to translate these regional commitments into concrete action, with both sides affirming their intent to follow through on agreed-upon measures to enhance security cooperation.