Cambodia has deported a group of Taiwanese fraud suspects to China, sparking concerns from Taiwan’s foreign ministry. The deportation, which took place over the weekend, involved nearly 190 individuals who were detained in connection with an online fraud operation in Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital, earlier this year.
According to Taiwan’s foreign ministry, approximately 180 Taiwanese citizens and seven alleged Chinese accomplices were arrested on March 31 during a series of raids targeting an online scam network. These individuals were reportedly detained in Cambodia for their involvement in a complex online fraud operation. Following the arrests, Taiwan’s representative office in Ho Chi Minh City initiated discussions with Cambodian officials, urging them to deport the Taiwanese suspects back to Taiwan to face legal charges.
However, Taiwan expressed frustration after Cambodia deported the suspects to China without providing a list of their nationalities. “We have pressed Cambodia to provide a comprehensive list of the deported individuals and clarify their identities. We also requested that the suspects be sent to Taiwan to face legal repercussions,” the ministry stated in a report by Radio Free Asia (RFA).
Cambodia and Taiwan have no official diplomatic ties, as Cambodia, like most countries, recognizes Beijing’s claim over Taiwan. Taiwan’s foreign ministry voiced its dissatisfaction with Cambodia’s handling of the situation, accusing the Cambodian government of bowing to pressure from China. The ministry also reiterated its concerns over the lack of transparency and the absence of a complete list of deported individuals.
“Under pressure from China, Cambodia has failed to provide a list of our nationals or the total number of those deported. We continue to press Cambodia to deliver the list promptly and express our serious concern and protest over the matter,” Taiwan’s foreign ministry added.
Cambodia has become a significant hub for fraud operations, many of which are run by Chinese criminal organizations. These scam operations often involve human trafficking and forced labor, with victims being coerced into participating in online scams under false job offers. Many of the victims come from Taiwan, Myanmar, and other parts of Asia.
In recent years, Taiwan has raised alarms over the deportation of its citizens from various countries to China after being arrested on telecom fraud charges. Countries such as Cambodia, Kenya, and Spain have previously sent Taiwanese fraud suspects to China, which has led to ongoing tensions. According to Taiwan’s foreign ministry, over 600 Taiwanese citizens have been deported to China since 2016 for their alleged involvement in online fraud schemes.
