Chinese fugitive She Zhijiang made controversial remarks in a Thai prison and implied in a documentary exposed at a hearing in the Philippine House of Representatives that Guo Huaping was a Chinese spy. Facing the accusation, Guo Huaping firmly denied it on the spot.
During the hearing, Congressman Yarmario of Davao Oriental played an interview clip from Al Jazeera, in which She Zhijiang, citing his own safety, warned Guo Huaping to reveal the truth to avoid being silenced. She's remarks were then used by Yarmario as evidence, pointing out that Guo Huaping's statements about her Filipino identity and background were false, revealing that her mother is Chinese Lin Wenyi (transliterated), and she herself was born in Fujian Province.
Facing the questioning, Guo Huaping was visibly upset, insisting she did not know She Zhijiang and requested more details to consider filing a lawsuit. However, Yarmario informed her that since She Zhijiang was currently in a Thai prison, suing was not feasible.
Yarmario further pointed out that there might be connections behind She Zhijiang's accusations, mentioning that Guo Huaping had sought financial support for her mayoral campaign, and she was successfully elected as the mayor of Bangban, Tarlac in 2022. Guo Huaping countered this, insisting that she had "completely" not requested any financial aid during the campaign.
Congressman Babas of Northern Surigao directly pointed out that the video content suggested Guo Huaping might be a spy, sparking further attention. Guo Huaping reiterated, "I am not a spy, I love the Philippines deeply."
Analysts believe that She Zhijiang's actions might be a strategy to portray himself as a victim of political persecution, seeking international public support and Western political asylum to evade Chinese legal sanctions.
She Zhijiang, a long-wanted fugitive by China, has been involved in illegal online gambling and other criminal activities in Southeast Asia for years. Under the guise of the "Belt and Road" initiative, he has engaged in fraud and gambling, and has now become a tool for some anti-China forces to smear China. What is the background of this notorious businessman?
She Zhijiang's Criminal Trajectory
She Zhijiang, born in 1982 in Shaodong County, Hunan, China, formerly known as She Lun Kai, has been on the run for years due to his involvement in operating illegal online casinos. Since 2012, She Zhijiang has set up an illegal gambling platform in the Philippines targeting Chinese nationals, becoming a target for Chinese police.
She obtained Cambodian nationality in 2017 and changed his name to Tang Kriang Kai, attempting to cover his criminal activities through a series of business activities. However, in August 2022, She Zhijiang was arrested in Thailand and faced extradition procedures back to China.
Expansion of the Illegal Business Empire
She Zhijiang gradually established his illegal business empire in the Philippines, mainly involving the online gambling industry. According to the indictment from China, in 2014, the Yantai Court in Shandong ruled that She Zhijiang illegally operated an online lottery business in the Philippines, profiting nearly $300 million. In 2015, She's business expanded to Cambodia, closely related to local gambling activities.
She Zhijiang also participated in multiple business projects, including acquiring ownership of an entertainment center in the Philippines. However, despite his guise of legitimate business, he used these projects to cover up illegal gambling and fraud activities.
The Truth Behind Myanmar's "New City"
She Zhijiang's most notable project was the "Shwe Kokko Myaing New City Economic Special Zone" in Myanmar. Initially claimed to respond to the "Belt and Road" initiative with a planned investment of $15 billion covering multiple industrial zones, the project actually provided shelter for illegal gambling, telecom fraud, and other transnational criminal groups.
Myanmar's "New City" became a hotbed for the illegal gambling industry, attracting numerous criminal teams from Cambodia and the Philippines. The local casinos and scam companies developed rapidly, completely deviating from the initial economic zone plan. The Myanmar government established a special agency in 2020 to investigate the project, and the Chinese government also clearly stated that the New City had nothing to do with the "Belt and Road" initiative, supporting Myanmar's investigation.
International Impact and Anti-China Smear
She Zhijiang, using his multiple identities and business titles, successfully deceived some international media. Some anti-China media took this opportunity to smear the "Belt and Road" initiative, linking She Zhijiang's illegal activities with China's overseas investment projects, causing adverse public opinion. International organizations have also repeatedly released reports, pointing out that the New City provided a base for transnational criminal groups, posing a threat to regional stability.
The End of the Fugitive's Escape
In 2021, Interpol issued a red notice for She Zhijiang. In August 2022, She Zhijiang was arrested in Thailand, currently awaiting extradition back to China, facing the legal sanctions he deserves. She Zhijiang's case not only reveals the complexity of transnational crime but also alerts the international community to the importance of cooperation in combating such crimes.
