Today’s Focus: Two major Southeast Asian telecom fraud giants were caught, the mastermind behind the scenes was exposed; continuous pressure from the CCP, Japan calmly responds “will not back down.”
First, let’s talk about a topic that many people find puzzling, that is the Southeast Asian telecom fraud parks, gambling cities, adult entertainment parks, why are they unable to be eradicated, who is actually pulling the strings behind the scenes?
Recently, two bosses associated with these industries have garnered attention from the public. One was indicted by the US, the other was extradited to China by the CCP. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that behind these two individuals, there is the shadow of the CCP. This naturally raises suspicions that the true owners behind these telecom fraud parks might be the Chinese government.
Let’s first talk about Asia-Pacific Group founder She Zhijiang, who was extradited to China from Thailand on November 12.
It is worth noting that in 2024, She Zhijiang, the founder of Myanmar’s Meawadi gambling group “Asia-Pacific New City,” admitted in an interview with Peninsula TV’s “East 101” program that he is a spy for the CCP’s national security.
During the interview, She Zhijiang claimed to have insider knowledge related to “the highest level.” In this statement, he referred to Xi Jinping because no other member of the Politburo Standing Committee can be referred to as “the highest level.” He claimed that he knew too much about national security and the dark side of the “Belt and Road Initiative,” so he would be silenced after being sent back to China.
According to She Zhijiang, he was recruited as a national security spy in 2016 and obtained Cambodian nationality in 2017. He claimed that he was following the instruction of the “CCP National Security Department” when he founded the Asia-Pacific Group, insisting that the valley where Asia-Pacific New City is located is part of the CCP’s “Belt and Road Initiative.”
She Zhijiang expressed deep regret after joining national security because the CCP wanted colonies, while he only wanted to do business.
In order to prove the truth of his statements, She Zhijiang provided the name and photo of the “national security agent who recruited him” during the Peninsula interview. Although the TV station did not disclose the person’s identity when the program aired, the fact that this information was released verifies that the TV station verified it but had reasons not to disclose it.
She Zhijiang also recounted the process of being recruited by national security. He said that he was wanted by the CCP for his operation of an online gaming platform targeting Chinese people, which was actually a small case, but the recruiter used this case as a condition for recruitment. The recruiter said that as long as he was recruited, not only would the case be dropped, but he could return to China. Indeed, in the two years since then, he has publicly returned to China multiple times to attend various overseas Chinese business meetings.
She Zhijiang claimed that he only established the Asia-Pacific Group under the instructions of the CCP’s national security. How much credibility does this statement hold?
According to verification, on September 17, 2017, She Zhijiang attended the “World Chinese Business Conference” held in Yangon, Myanmar with the vice chairman of the “Chinese Business Council” and “Chairman Xu Rongmao,” and signed a contract with the Burmese government for the development of 120 square kilometers of land in the Karen State valley to build Asia-Pacific New City. During the signing process, the Chinese ambassador to Myanmar personally attended, indicating full support from the Chinese government for the project.
To confirm the truthfulness of his words, She Zhijiang also provided the name and photo of the “national security agent who recruited him” during the Peninsula interview. Although the TV station did not disclose the person’s identity when the program aired, the fact that this information was released verifies that the TV station verified it but had reasons not to disclose it.
She Zhijiang then addressed the recruitment process by national security. He said that at the time, he was being hunted by the CCP for operating an online gaming platform targeting Chinese people. This was actually a minor case, but the person who recruited him used this case as a condition for recruitment. The recruiter said that as long as he was recruited, not only would the case be dropped, but he could return to China. Indeed, in the two years since then, he has publicly returned to China multiple times to attend various overseas Chinese business meetings.
She Zhijiang claimed that the reason he was able to attend overseas Chinese business meetings was that Asia-Pacific New City was part of the “Belt and Road Initiative,” orchestrated by the Overseas Chinese Federation; inviting him to participate in “Belt and Road Summit” in China was also an invitation from the Overseas Chinese Federation, which falls under the “United Front Work Department” of the CCP.
In 2018, during Xi Jinping’s visit to the Philippines, She Zhijiang attended the dinner hosted by the Filipino president for Xi Jinping and even recorded a video of Xi Jinping. These are things that ordinary overseas Chinese business people cannot achieve. From this, it is evident that She Zhijiang’s relationship with the CCP is quite extraordinary.
After She Zhijiang, let’s now discuss Tai Zi Group founder Chen Zhi who was indicted by the US.
Chen Zhi’s case is very similar to She Zhijiang’s, both having backgrounds in the “CCP Security Apparatus,” except that Chen Zhi is not a spy for the national security department but for the CCP public security system.
This information was revealed by defected “Public Security Political Security Bureau” special agent “Aileke.” Before Chen Zhi was indicted by the US, Aileke revealed that he was tasked with capturing the overseas dissident cartoonist “Weird Chili.” Initially, he was assigned by the Public Security Bureau to the Taiwan branch of the “Tai Zi Group” in Cambodia as a planning director. His superior told him that the Prince company could meet their needs to use it as bait to invite “Weird Chili” to do cartoon designs for the company, and after the design was adopted by the company, invite “Weird Chili” to Cambodia for an interview. When “Weird Chili” refused the invitation, he changed the interview location to the Taiwan branch of the Tai Zi Group. The plan nearly succeeded at the time but was foiled due to strong opposition from “Weird Chili’s” wife.
According to Aileke, in this case, the Tai Zi Group was used as a base for “cross-border repression and kidnapping” by the “CCP Public Security.”
From the above two cases, it is evident that these two telecom fraud giants wreaking havoc in Southeast Asia are both CCP operatives. This is not considered random by the public.
According to She Zhijiang, the recruitment of spies by the CCP authorities overseas is a common occurrence. For example, Guo Huaping, the former Chinese mayor of Banban City in Danlug Province, Philippines, arrested by the Filipino authorities was working for the “CCP National Security Department.”
During the Peninsula TV interview with She Zhijiang, Guo Huaping’s Chinese ID was seen in his dossier, confirming her Chinese birth, with her mother being Chinese. Contrary to her claim, she stated that her mother was Filipino, and her birthplace was also in the Philippines.
At that time, She Zhijiang also called out to Guo Huaping through Peninsula TV, stating that he was an example, warning that the CCP is not trustworthy, and if one wants to survive, they should speak the truth to the world.
Before discovering Guo Huaping’s identity, she had a good image in the Philippines and was loved by the local community. However, in March 2024, the Filipino authorities raided a local casino and found it to be an online scam park, suspected of “human trafficking and unlawful detention.” The authorities rescued nearly 700 employees, including hundreds of Chinese nationals, from the location. Upon further investigation, they found that Guo Huaping owned nearly half of the park’s land, casting suspicion on her involvement. During the investigation, Guo Huaping’s identity was questioned. Eventually, the Filipino authorities discovered that her identity information was all false.
From the aforementioned cases, it is evident that there is a Chinese shadow behind Southeast Asia’s telecom fraud parks, gambling cities, and adult entertainment parks.
Given this scenario, why has the CCP intensified crackdowns on telecom fraud parks recently? In response, current affairs commentator Henghe pointed out in an article published by Da Ji Yuan that there are three potential reasons:
The first possibility is because “the US has taken action.” Recently, the US indicted Chen Zhi and the Tai Zi Group, exposing many internal details. The CCP did not want She Zhijiang to fall into American hands, so they extradited him back to China. This way, they could be assured of the situation.
The second possibility is due to “internal struggles within the CCP’s high ranks,” where She Zhijiang’s backers lost out in a power struggle and had no choice but to hand him over to newcomers.
The third possibility is that the “CCP public security and national security are vying for territory.” This possibility was mentioned by Aileke; he claimed in a recent interview that while public security and national security generally cooperate, there is also infighting between them in practical operations. This is due to many overlapping responsibilities between the political security bureau of the Public Security Bureau and the national security department, leading to conflicting interests.
Aileke stated that he was an example; because he refused to hand over the project to the national security department leaders, he was questioned by them and requested to leave Myanmar to go to Taiwan to engage in united front work. Because he rejected the national security department’s request, he was targeted by the CCP.
Recently, Japanese Prime Minister Saenae Kohshi expressed the concept of “Taiwan’s situation,” stating that if conflict were to occur in the Taiwan Strait, Japan could invoke the “right of collective self-defense.” This statement stirred backlash from the CCP, not only verbally intimidating Kohshi but also initiating retaliatory measures. However, these actions did not force Japan to retract the statements; instead, they reaffirmed that Japan would not retreat from the “Taiwan’s situation” concept. It is noteworthy that the CCP’s retaliatory measures did not deter the Japanese public but rather increased their support for Kohshi. Japan’s allies also supported the “Taiwan’s situation” concept, with the US ambassador to Japan emphasizing the “US-Japan alliance,” and Taiwanese public opinion backing the US-Japan democratic alliance.
On November 18, Jinz Akira, director of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Department of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held talks with Liu Jingsong, director of the Asian Division of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing. During this period, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs once again raised the issue of Kohshi’s erroneous remarks to the Japanese side and sternly demanded that Japan retract the wrong statements.
However, in the evening of the same day, Yoshi Tsunemasa, Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, reiterated that they would not retract Prime Minister Kohshi’s remarks made in parliament, stating that “this does not change the government’s established position,” and strongly protested against the remarks made by CCP Consul General to Osaka, Xue Jian, announcing “decapitation.”
Renowned Japanese media figure and executive director of the Indo-Pacific Strategic Think Tank, Yabeta Akio, told Da Ji Yuan that by sending the “Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs” to China for communication, regardless of what methods the CCP employs, Japan responds with a calm and restrained attitude. Akio stated that Japanese authorities need to consider the safety of Japanese nationals within China, as well as the risks faced by Japanese enterprises, which are the challenging issues Japan’s foreign policy must address now. Foreign relations are not about engaging in ferocious battles but rather require addressing problems with subtlety and wisdom.
Yu Zongji, former Dean of the Political Warfare College of the National Defense University of Taiwan, affirmed that Japan’s relatively restrained approach in resolving diplomatic conflicts. He told Da Ji Yuan that Kohshi’s “Taiwan’s situation” remarks stemmed from Abe’s policy of “Taiwan’s situation equals Japan’s situation,” but she shifted the interpretative power from strategic ambiguity to strategic clarity, which the CCP cannot accept.
Yu Zongji noted that Kohshi emphasized the desire to establish a “quasi-security alliance” with Taiwan and advocated for the so-called “single theater” stance. These actions are unacceptable to the CCP because it poses an obstacle to the CCP’s handling of Taiwan affairs. Hence, the CCP resorts to various methods to suppress Japan.
Recently, the Beijing authorities issued a notice, urging Chinese citizens “not to travel to Japan in the near future.” In support of the CCP authorities, the three major state-owned airlines in China issued a notice offering free ticket refunds or changes for those who met the specified requirements and planned to travel to Japan.
Moreover, the CCP issued a statement, that starting from the 18th, continuous eight-day-long “live-fire exercises” would be conducted in the “southern part of the Yellow Sea” as a clear warning to Japan. Xinhua News Agency even warned, “A word can start a country or ruin a country.”
However, the CCP’s suppressive actions did not intimidate the Japanese public. The Japanese newspaper “Asahi Shimbun” conducted telephone surveys in Japan on the 15th and 16th, showing that Kohshi Saenae’s approval rating was 69%, higher than the initial approval rating in October, when the cabinet was formed for the first time. This situation is quite rare in Japan. Typically, after the celebratory phase subsides, the second approval rating of the Japanese cabinet tends to decline. A situation like Kohshi’s cabinet, where the approval rating continued to rise, is extremely rare.
In response to the CCP’s oppression, Japan’s allies did not stay silent. George Glass, the US ambassador to Japan, posted a message on X platform in English and Japanese, emphasizing the unwavering commitment of the US-Japan alliance to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
On the same day, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te also expressed that the US has conveyed affirmation of Prime Minister Kohshi’s remarks, and political figures in Taiwan, especially the opposition parties, should respect Japan’s domestic politics and refrain from negative interpretations.
Yu Zongji mentioned that Taiwan’s latest polls showed that only 13.9% support reunification with China, with the vast majority of the public hoping to maintain the status quo. This suggests that the overwhelming majority of Taiwan’s public sentiment stands on the side of the US-Japan democratic alliance.
【Jiayin Moment】Production Team