China to limit Myanmar border crossings to counter telecom fraudsters

'Strict border control zone' will be set up temporarily in Yunnan province

Authorities transfer 109 people suspected of telecom fraud across the border from Myanmar to Southwestern China’s Yunnan province in mid-September, according to the Ministry of Public Security

KELLY WANG, ZHANG FANGZHOU and QIN JIANHANG, Caixin

October 1, 2023 12:00 JST

China will set up a temporary control zone in the southwestern province of Yunnan to restrict movements of people in a region along the border with Myanmar in an effort to combat rampant telecom fraud committed by Chinese nationals lured to the Southeast Asian nation.

From Oct. 1 to the end of the year, individuals and vehicles entering the "strict border control zone" in the city of Tengchong will be registered and checked upon arrival, according to a Wednesday statement from Baoshan, which has jurisdiction over the area. It added that people and cars without permission to enter the area would be handed over to police.