Thailand’s Appeal Court has ordered the extradition of SHE Zhijiang (as depicted in the featured image), a Chinese-Cambodian national accused of operating large-scale illegal gambling networks targeting Chinese citizens. The ruling, which upholds an earlier judgment by the Criminal Court, requires his handover to the People’s Republic of China within 90 days once the decision becomes final.

Authorities allege that Zhijiang was a casino kingpin and oversaw the establishment and management of more than 239 casino websites, generating an estimated cash flow of approximately 2.78 trillion yuan ($32.3 billion). 

Investigators say he was also involved in the controversial Asia Pacific New City development in Myanmar’s Shwe Kokko Special Economic Zone, a mega-project that reportedly hosted casino complexes suspected of facilitating online gambling and fraud-linked activities.

Acting upon China’s request

Zhijiang appealed the ruling, claiming that key sections of the Extradition Act were unconstitutional. However, Thailand’s Constitutional Court unanimously dismissed the petition on 22 October 2025, finding no conflict with constitutional principles. On 10 November 2025, the Appeal Court upheld the extradition order, effectively clearing the final legal obstacle.

China first submitted a formal request for Zhijiang’s provisional arrest in August 2022 under Thailand’s Extradition Act B.E. 2551 (2008). The Office of the Attorney-General (OAG), serving as Thailand’s central authority for extradition, approved the request and coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Royal Thai Police, leading to Zhijiang’s detention. In November 2022, prosecutors petitioned the Criminal Court to proceed with the extradition, and the court subsequently ordered that he be held pending further action.

The case is being processed under the 1993 Extradition Treaty between Thailand and China, further underscoring the strengthening cooperation between the two countries in tackling transnational crime. Several Thai agencies, including the Department of Corrections and the Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs, are now working alongside the Chinese embassy to ensure a swift transfer.

Days after Xi-Anutin talks

The ruling arrives amid delicate diplomacy. On the sidelines of the recent ASEAN Summit, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul assured Chinese President Xi Jinping that Thailand would not proceed with casino legalisation. Analysts view the pledge as an effort to ease Beijing’s concerns over outbound gambling networks, which Chinese authorities warn expose citizens to fraud, trafficking, and criminal exploitation.

Thailand’s PM Anutin Charnvirakul (left) meets China’s President Xi Jinping (right). (Source: Chinese Embassy)

Chinese tourists have historically been Thailand’s largest visitor segment. Official data indicates a 34 per cent year-on-year decline in arrivals in the first half of the year, falling to 2.26 million. With tourism accounting for roughly 12 percent of Thailand’s GDP, policymakers are under pressure to restore confidence without encouraging social risks linked to gambling.

The decision also contrasts sharply with a previous proposal backed by former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who advocated for integrated entertainment complexes featuring casinos. Supporters claimed such developments would boost employment and reclaim revenue lost to neighbouring jurisdictions. However, religious groups, academics, and civil society organisations mounted strong objections, leading to the bill being withdrawn in July 2025.

Zhijiang, who also holds Cambodian citizenship, has been linked to the Dara Sakor development in Koh Kong province and is accused of operating online platforms serving more than 330,000 users, allegedly causing financial losses exceeding 150 million yuan ($21 million). Furthermore, questions loom over how Zhijiang will be handled after extradition, given China’s history of issuing execution notices to individuals with backgrounds in illegal casino operations.

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