Thailand–Cambodia dispute and telecom scams test ASEAN’s resolve

The ASEAN Summit, held in Kuala Lumpur from Oct 26–28, takes place amid hopes for a Thailand–Cambodia peace deal and renewed concerns over Cambodia’s telecom fraud crisis. Despite past crackdowns, online scams have thrived since Cambodia’s 2019 gambling ban and now fuel regional tensions, with alleged ties to political elites and international crime networks. South Korea plans to raise the issue at the summit, while Vietnam seeks stronger regional cooperation. NTU Assoc Prof Dylan Loh noted that ASEAN’s task force on cyber fraud is a good start, but whether it can evolve into a well-resourced, coordinated enforcement mechanism remains to be seen.

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