REPRESENTATIVES from China and its five neighboring countries convened at a meeting in Southwest China on Tuesday to deliberate on the Lancang-Mekong Law Enforcement cooperation’s future steps. At the meeting in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, senior officials from China, Myanmar, and Thailand particularly discussed the pressing issue of rampant telecom fraud syndicates operating out of Myawaddy, Myanmar. Delegates from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam also participated, all agreeing on the urgent necessity for concerted action to rescue victims, apprehend criminal syndicate leaders, and dismantle telecom fraud hubs. On the same day, the Lancang-Mekong Integrated Law Enforcement and Security Cooperation Center (LMLECC) reported that a joint law enforcement operation by the six countries between August and December 2024 led to the apprehension of 70,000 suspects involved in telecom fraud cases. They also rescued over 160 victims. The recent abduction of several Chinese nationals, notably actor Wang Xing, near the Thailand-Myanmar border, has raised public concern. Wang was rescued within days and safely returned to China on Jan. 10. Meanwhile, John Lee Ka-chiu, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), disclosed Tuesday that 10 Hong Kong residents remain in captivity in various Southeast Asian nations. The HKSAR authorities are investigating the cases and making every effort to secure the victims’ rescue, he said. Lee said that among the 28 victims, 16 were rescued before the SAR’s Security Bureau increased its efforts. An additional two individuals have been rescued since, leaving 10 still in captivity. (SD-Xinhua) | 