In a short period of time, Chinese media have reported on 3 cases of Chinese citizens going missing, all of them in Thailand, with at least 9 individuals missing.
According to a report by Xinmin Evening News, a woman named Miao from Kunming, Yunnan, posted a video online seeking help on May 16, stating that her husband Zhang and 3 others went to Thailand for a project inspection on May 3 and have been missing since May 4.
Miao revealed that her husband runs an advertising company and is familiar with the other 3 individuals on the trip, with a man surnamed Feng initiating the Thailand inspection trip. The original plan was for the 4 individuals to depart for Thailand on May 3 and return on May 12, completing all legal entry and exit procedures with pre-booked round-trip tickets.
Upon arriving in Bangkok, Thailand on May 4, the group faced a sudden change in plans that required them to abandon their visit to Nanbangfu (located in northwestern Thailand) and take an overnight drive instead.
Miao recalled that on the morning of May 4, her husband sent a location that was not their intended destination, raising her suspicions. Despite multiple attempts to call her husband and the others, her husband’s phone was off and the others could not be reached, leading to their disappearance.
Miao contacted the girlfriend of another individual, Chang, who confirmed that Chang went missing after sending a final video on the morning of May 4. Concerned, Miao reported to the Yunnan police on the evening of May 4.
On May 9, Chang contacted his girlfriend to assure her he was fine and had found work, but his hesitant and fearful tone raised concerns. A similar call was received by Miao from her husband on May 10, where he assured her of his safety but sounded emotional and restrained, with background voices prompting him to provide specific information and end the call quickly.
Miao suspected the calls were being monitored and her husband was being controlled by others.
In another report by Jimo News, a man from Henan went missing near the Thai-Myanmar border along with 3 companions.
The man’s sister, Lin Fen, revealed on May 11 that her brother, born in 1989 in Xinxing, Henan, worked in finance. He mentioned a short business trip with a return date of May 5, which initially did not raise suspicions for Lin Fen as he often traveled for work without specifying destinations.
After her brother’s departure, Lin Fen saw his airport check-in on WeChat moments. However, his lack of response to her comments on his posts and his unavailability over the phone raised concerns. Through his friends, Lin Fen learned that on April 29, her brother and the others flew from Zhengzhou to Guangzhou, then to Bangkok, where they boarded a vehicle provided by the employer, planning to visit Chiang Mai.
After losing contact on May 3, their final location was traced to Dafu, adjacent to Chiang Mai in western Thailand near Myanmar.
Following her brother’s disappearance, Lin Fen’s parents became hospitalized due to the distress. She shared pleas on various platforms in hopes of receiving news about her brother.
On May 17, Jimo News reported on a 21-year-old student, Wang Shuoxiang, from Shandong University, who went missing in Bangkok after arriving on March 17, with no contact with his family for over 60 days.
As per Wang Shuoxiang’s brother-in-law, they are from Wangzhuang Village, Jiayue Town, Zouping City, Shandong. Standing at 1.75 meters, Wang Shuoxiang was a third-year student in computer application technology at Weifang Engineering Vocational College. His family was unaware of his trip abroad, believing he was only going to Malaysia for a vacation before losing contact during a layover in Bangkok.
From a presumed departure to Qingdao on March 16, followed by Guangzhou and then Bangkok on March 17, Wang Shuoxiang’s last presence at a hotel in Bangkok after exchanging WeChat messages sparked disappearance concerns. School authorities alerted his family on March 19 about unpaid fees, further complicating the puzzling situation.
Wang Shuoxiang’s mother’s anguish upon learning of her son’s disappearance led to public appeals for his return. With elderly grandparents in the family, the news was withheld from them to prevent undue distress.
Thai police statistics from 2023 revealed an alarming rate of approximately 70,000 Chinese individuals trafficked from Thailand to the border town of Miaowadi in Myanmar annually, translating to nearly 200 victims per day. These victims are often coerced into telecommunications fraud, sexual exploitation, or illegal organ trade activities upon reaching Myanmar, with minimal intervention from the Chinese government.