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Leopold Chen

A Chinese actor who went missing near Myanmar’s border with Thailand and fell victim to a human trafficking network has boarded a flight home.
Wang Xing, also known by his stage name Xing Xing, departed from Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok on Friday night, a week after his ordeal began, state broadcaster CCTV reported.
Wang entered the Thai capital early on January 3, and lost contact with his friends and family at around 11am on the same day in the Mae Sot area in northwestern Thailand, according to a message posted by his girlfriend on Chinese social media late Sunday evening.
Mae Sot borders Myanmar’s Myawaddy, a city notorious as a fraud hub.


Before arriving in Thailand, Wang was invited to act in a film in Thailand by someone who posed as the associate director of the production, according to Wang’s girlfriend, identified only by her surname Kang.
He was led through Thai immigration by someone claiming to be a production crew member, and driven to Mae Sot, about 500km (310 miles) from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport, the post said.
After losing contact with Wang, Kang sought help from the Chinese embassy in Bangkok and the consulate in Chiang Mai. She also reported Wang missing to the police in Bangkok.
Wang was finally located by Thai immigration authorities on Tuesday, and was returned to Thailand the same day.
Wang said he realised he was kidnapped after he crossed a river into Myanmar and noticed the rudimentary living conditions, Thai police inspector general Thatchai Pitaneelaboot told state news agency Xinhua on Thursday.
Thatchai said the force quickly located Wang after receiving a request for help from the Chinese side, adding that the investigation went smoothly because the vehicle carrying him drove directly to the border, making the route straightforward.
“But other cases might be more complex, as they might involve changing vehicles, drivers, and direction, making it difficult to trace,” he added.

The incident prompted an outpouring of reports on similar cases on Chinese social media platforms, with many users claiming their friends and relatives had also disappeared near the Myanmar border after being tricked into travelling to Thailand.
Among the missing is believed to be Chinese model Yang Zeqi, who entered Thailand on December 20 after answering a recruitment ad for actors in Thailand in a group chat, according to a Weibo user claiming to be his cousin.
Yang went missing the next day near the Myanmar border, the social media user, surnamed Mu, said.
He made a video call to his mother on December 29, which showed him in poor health with obvious scars near his eyes. The call ended in six minutes and he has not been contacted since.
Both cases pointed to a person known as “Yan Shiliu”, who posed as an employee of a Thai entertainment company.
Mu said on Thursday that Yang’s father would fly to Bangkok to file a report with Thai police.


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Crime

Rescued from Myanmar, Chinese actor Wang Xing flies home

Royal Thai Police officers escort rescued Chinese actor Wang Xing (centre) at the police airport in Bangkok, Thailand, on Tuesday. Photo: EPA-EFE/Royal Thai  Police 

Chinese actor Wang Xing (right) talks to Thai police officers in Mae Sot district on Thai-Myanmar border on Tuesday. Photo: Royal Thai Police via AP

Chinese actor Wang Xing says fraud gang trafficked him to Myanmar scam compound

Chinese actor Wang Xing (right) speaks with Thai police officers in Mae Sot district, Thailand on Tuesday after being rescued from a scam compound in Myanmar. Photo: The Royal Thai Police via AP

Chinese actor Wang Xing, missing on Thai trip, rescued after Myanmar scam hub scare

Wang Xing’s disappearance caught public attention after his girlfriend posted on social media that she had lost contact with him near the Myanmar border. Photo: Handout 

Chinese actor Wang Xing reported missing in Thailand near notorious scam hub

Chinese actor Wang Xing, also known by his stage name Xing Xing, is said to have travelled to Thailand to take part in a film production, according to a social media user claiming to be his girlfriend. Photo: Weibo / 八卦名探

Chinese cancel Thai holidays as actor Wang Xing’s kidnapping fuels safety fears

A handout photo from the Royal Thai Police shows Chinese actor Wang Xing being escorted by officers after returning from Myanmar, at the police airport in Bangkok, Thailand, on Tuesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

News

China

Diplomacy

Wang boards a flight back to China from Thailand on Friday night, a week after his ordeal began


Wang boards a flight back to China from Thailand on Friday night, a week after his ordeal began.


Rescued from Myanmar, Chinese actor Wang Xing flies home

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Wang boards a flight back to China from Thailand on Friday night, a week after his ordeal began

Wang boards a flight back to China from Thailand on Friday night, a week after his ordeal began