The united front against the junta in northern Shan State fell apart last week, leaving Beijing as the key powerbroker on Myanmar’s northeastern frontier.

Just as Gen. Ukris Boontanondha met a full complement of Myanmar’s military leadership, the FBI pledged to put a final stop to scam compounds operating on the Thai-Myanmar border.

There’s been widespread focus on foreigners trafficked into Cambodia’s cyber-scam compounds. But a growing number of Cambodian nationals are being forced to work in the illegal industry as well.