On November 16, 2023, two alleged cyber scam kingpins were handed over to Chinese authorities by Myanmar’s military government after a lightning-fast operation by a coalition of rebel militias. The two individuals, Ming Zhenzhen and Ming Guoping, are accused of running online scams from Myanmar. This event marked a turning point for China’s relationship with Myanmar’s military regime, as Beijing had previously turned a blind eye to the regime’s human rights abuses due to strategic interests. However, the proliferation of online scam centers in Myanmar has caused China to lose patience with the junta, potentially leading to changes in its policy towards the country.

Best Coverage: https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/19/china/myanmar-conflict-china-scam-centers-analysis-intl-hnk/index.html