Shwe Kokko, located on the impoverished Myanmar-Thai border, has become synonymous with controversy, its very existence reflecting the turmoil of a region long afflicted by conflict and poverty. Once mere cornfields along the Moei River, this glittering city now stands tall with shiny buildings and hotels, marketed as a luxurious getaway. But, beneath this polished exterior lies a web of intrigue, where allegations of scams, money laundering, and human trafficking surface regularly, painting Shwe Kokko as more than just another development project.
According to the BBC, Shwe Kokko has garnered notoriety as "a hub for scams," built on the foundations of dubious activities orchestrated by the very man who envisioned it—She Zhijiang, the owner of Yatai International Holding Group (Yatai IHG). The ambitious project, initiated around 2017, has struggled with its identity as it transitions from the promise of luxury to the specter of illegality. Currently imprisoned in Thailand, awaiting extradition to China, She finds his dream marred by allegations of criminal enterprises operating under the guise of legitimate businesses.
Initially constructed to cater to wealthy Chinese tourists, She Zhijiang's vision was grand. Shwe Kokko was to be part of China's Belt and Road Initiative—a glittering resort city enticing visitors with promises of opulence and safety. But with construction firmly entrenched amid the layers of civil unrest, shifting fortunes have left the city’s future trembling.
She Zhijiang, born in 1982, is not new to controversy. His rise began with illegal online gambling ventures, leading to his arrest for running unlawful lotteries back home. Desperate for success, he struck alliances with local warlords and invested heavily, pledging to create part of the vast infrastructure network aimed at broadening China's economic reach. Yet, as the Bangkok Post reported, She was apprehended based on allegations claiming to defraud foreign nationals.
Navigational challenges compound the allure of Shwe Kokko. Entering this city is no walk in the park, with access restrictions ramping up following the military coup of 2021. It can take days to traverse checkpoints just to witness the glittering facades of the province's newest conquest. Visitors often observe the shiny surface of the city, almost resembling provincial Chinese towns, complete with Chinese characters on storefronts. Yet, residents remain dubious, stating the reality stands starkly different from the advertising.
While Yatai's promotional videos highlight luxury villas and fine dining, the on-ground reality depicts local Karen workers dominating the streets rather than affluent tourists. Local accounts suggest the 'scam for hire' industry persists, with whispers of operations still being conducted under the veneer of legitimate businesses. One participant, who previously worked at such businesses, remarked, “The target is the elderly. You start building friendships, then introduce them to dubious investment schemes.” This highlights the human cost behind what the city presents as riches.
Further compounding Shwe Kokko’s grim narrative is the dark history of illegal practices intertwined with its construction and operations. Multiple reports denote the city's transformation from what was once legitimate efforts to restore its economy to becoming entrenched within human trafficking pathways, with individuals forced or lured to work within its murky scam centers. A resident who lived through these times confided, "Everybody in Shwe Kokko knows what goes on there. The whole city is doing it. There’s no way Yatai doesn't know." This groundswell of local knowledge contradicts the corporate narrative Yatai attempts to project.
Even as background noise swells from national media critiques across China aimed at discrediting She Zhijiang—a man who professes his innocence from behind bars—the future of Shwe Kokko hangs teetering. The Thai government's crackdown on electricity supplies to areas associated with transnational crime syndicates, including those connected to Yatai, only amplifies the city's struggles, leaving behind uncertainty for legitimate investment and tourism.
Notably, She’s deluded affixing of blame also shines through during his prison video calls. "I can promise Yatai would never accept telecom fraud and scams," he proclaimed. These attempts at public relations seem oblivious to ground-level realities shaped by lawless conditions empowered by local armed groups and rebel factions tearing apart stability.
Analysts predict this instability will become increasingly prominent as external forces create tighter scrutiny and blockades. Jason Tower from the United States Institute for Peace notes, "The economy will continue to be a scam economy," and as time passes, it becomes evident how deeply entrenched these operations have become.
With unsettling tales of forced labor and rampant fraud overshadowing any original design, Shwe Kokko simultaneously reveals both the potential and peril of unregulated capitalism within violent regions. It is starkly clear: the real business behind its creation may lay bare grim tales entangled with its glittering ambitions.
She Zhijiang's grand dream of transforming Shwe Kokko appears increasingly subdued under the weight of its dark reputation. Will the city ever transcend its shadowy origins, or will it languish as just another isolated hub for crime, faded ambitions, and broken lives? The challenges lie heavily entrenched, and the collective stories coming from Shwe Kokko provide no easy answers.