Thailand and China have agreed to join forces in a concerted effort to tackle the escalating issue of fraudulent call centre operations that predominantly operate from the border regions adjacent to Myanmar and Cambodia.

This collaboration comes in response to the increasing prevalence of phone and online scams often perpetrated by trafficked workers.

According to the Royal Thai Police, a new coordination centre will be established at the national police headquarters in Bangkok.

Concurrently, Chinese authorities are planning a separate operational centre in Mae Sot, Tak Province, directly opposite the Myawaddy region in Myanmar, which is known to be a significant hub for these call centre scams.

The coordinated response is anticipated to launch in February, following a high-level meeting between Thai and Chinese security officials in Bangkok.

These efforts aim to dismantle the networks comprising Thai, Chinese, and other nationals involved in fraudulent activities.

The United Nations has highlighted that Southeast Asia, particularly the border regions linking Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia, has become a central location for telecommunication and online fraud.

This surge in scams has been attributed to the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, with numerous individuals being trafficked to work under harsh conditions in scam centres.

Public sentiment in Thailand has increasingly demanded action against these illegal operations, as reports continue to emerge about the brutal treatment experienced by the workers involved.

China's involvement surged partly due to high-profile incidents, including the recent cross-border rescue of Chinese actor Wang Xing from Myanmar, bringing the issue to the forefront of Chinese concerns.

In a significant development, Chinese state media announced that officials from China, Myanmar, and Thailand had reached an agreement to eliminate telecom fraud centres within Myanmar during discussions held in Kunming, China.

Further reinforcing these initiatives, a meeting was conducted this week between a Thai military delegation and Myanmar's junta leadership, spearheaded by Soe Win, to address issues of human trafficking and online scams, as reported by Myanmar's state media.

The _Global New Light of Myanmar_ revealed that approximately 55,000 foreign nationals, mainly Chinese, were repatriated from these scam centres between October 2023 and January 2025.

Despite claims from Myanmar that its neighboring countries support these operations, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai countered such suggestions, emphasizing the collaborative nature of resolving this cross-border issue, which requires joint efforts from Myanmar and China along with Thailand.