Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will embark on an official visit to China from February 5 to 8, marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations. Her meetings with President Xi Jinping are expected to focus on enhancing cooperation, particularly in combating the surge in call-centre scams, which has become a major political and security issue for Thailand.

Thailand’s efforts to tackle these scams include a draft Royal Decree on Measures for Preventing and Combating Technology-Related Crimes, currently under review with the aim of enactment by February. This move comes amid growing international concern about Thailand’s role as a transit hub for call-centre syndicates linked to human trafficking and illicit financial flows.

The Chinese government has proposed establishing a joint coordination centre with Thailand to fight these networks more effectively. The crisis has also raised concerns about Thailand’s human trafficking status, with the country currently ranked in “Tier 2” on the US Trafficking in Persons report. The Thai government faces increasing pressure to improve its standing and prevent a downgrade that could impact its international reputation and economy.