Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs attends the 2nd Contact Group Meeting on Countering Criminal Online Scams in East Asia and the Pacific

Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs attends the 2nd Contact Group Meeting on Countering Criminal Online Scams in East Asia and the Pacific

Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs attends the 2nd Contact Group Meeting on Countering Criminal Online Scams in East Asia and the Pacific

On 8 June 2026, Mr. Chettaphan Maksamphan, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, attended the 2nd Contact Group Meeting on Countering Criminal Online Scams in East Asia and the Pacific in Manila, the Philippines. The meeting was hosted by the Honorable Michael George DeSombre, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, and Mr. David Bedard, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the U.S.

Thailand underscored the importance of international cooperation in addressing online scams and human trafficking in the region, and expressed support for efforts to strengthen law enforcement capacity, intelligence sharing, victim protection, and financial disruption measures, while promoting ASEAN-led regional cooperation. The Meeting exchanged information and views on the situation of online scams in the region, as well as domestic and international efforts to combat online scam operations. They also discussed challenges arising from technological, political, and economic factors, as well as directions for future cooperation.

The Contact Group is a platform established by the U.S. for information-sharing and cooperation on countering online scams in Southeast Asia between the U.S. and its partners. The first meeting was held in Washington, D.C. on 30 April 2026.