Cambodia and China are strengthening bilateral security cooperation, with transnational crime and online scams emerging as key areas for deeper coordination between the two countries.
The issue was discussed during a meeting between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Chinese Vice Minister of Public Security Yang Weilin at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh on September 23, as Cambodia hosted the International Conference on Combating Online Scams (ICCOS 2026).
According to Cambodia's state news agency AKP, the two sides spoke highly of progress in bilateral security cooperation, particularly in combating transnational crime and online scams. Yang led a Chinese delegation attending the conference in Phnom Penh.
Security cooperation takes centre stage
The meeting focused on strengthening law enforcement coordination and addressing transnational criminal activities, including technology-facilitated fraud and online scam operations.
The discussions came as Cambodia brought together officials, law enforcement agencies and international organisations for ICCOS 2026, creating a broader platform for countries to exchange information and experience on combating online scams.
Yang Weilin also commended Cambodia's socioeconomic development and the progress made in bilateral security dialogue.
The two sides have elevated their security dialogue to a 3+3 mechanism, incorporating the relevant interior and public security ministries. The mechanism provides a higher-level structure for discussing bilateral security cooperation.
Prime Minister Hun Manet reaffirmed Cambodia's stated position of taking a zero-tolerance approach toward online scam syndicates and emphasised the importance of regional cooperation and intelligence sharing in addressing cross-border fraud.
The two sides also discussed expanding tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
Key Facts
| Indicator | Details |
|---|---|
| Countries | Cambodia and China |
| Cambodian leader | Prime Minister Hun Manet |
| Chinese official | Yang Weilin, Vice Minister of Public Security |
| Meeting location | Peace Palace, Phnom Penh |
| Main security focus | Transnational crime and online scams |
| Bilateral mechanism | 3+3 security dialogue |
| International conference | ICCOS 2026 |
| Conference dates | September 23-24, 2026 |
| Countries represented | 28 in the final declaration process |
| International organisations | 7 |
| Main international partners mentioned | UNODC, INTERPOL and LMLECC |
| Conference outcome | Phnom Penh Declaration |
| Declaration commitments | 11 |
| Key areas | Law enforcement, intelligence, technology, financial investigations, victim protection and international cooperation |
ICCOS 2026 brings international law enforcement together
The Cambodia-China discussions took place against the backdrop of the two-day International Conference on Combating Online Scams, held in Phnom Penh on September 23-24.
The conference brought together representatives from countries and international organisations to exchange experiences, examine emerging methods used by transnational criminal networks and discuss approaches to technology-facilitated scams.
AKP reported that representatives from 27 countries and seven international organisations attended the conference's initial gathering, while more than 340 journalists from 69 local and international media organisations covered the event. The final conference outcome involved delegates from 28 countries and seven international organisations adopting the Phnom Penh Declaration.
The declaration contains 11 commitments covering areas including international cooperation, disruption of criminal networks and proceeds, technological innovation, legal and regulatory frameworks, institutional capacity, public-private partnerships, victim protection and dismantling scam compounds and related infrastructure.
UN official highlights Cambodia's anti-scam efforts
International participants at the conference also commented on Cambodia's efforts to combat online scams.
Joshua James, Regional Counter-Cybercrime Coordinator at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), praised the conference and highlighted Cambodia's recent efforts to shut down scam centres.
James said the international community had gained lessons from Cambodia's response and noted that the conference provided an opportunity for officials and experts to examine how transnational organised crime groups are changing their methods.
His comments represent an assessment from a UNODC official rather than an independent measurement of the overall effectiveness of Cambodia's anti-scam campaign.
Philippines links online scams to human trafficking risks
Noreliza R. Maruñg Manlangit, an attorney with the Philippine Department of Justice, also expressed appreciation for Cambodia's hosting of the conference.
She recognised what she described as the Cambodian government's strong commitment to combating online scams and linked such efforts to protecting national economies and people vulnerable to human trafficking.
The connection between online scams and trafficking has become an important component of international discussions because some people working in scam operations may themselves be victims of trafficking or coercion.
France calls for stronger international information sharing
Yannick Reibel, Head of the Online Fraud Group at France's Ministry of Interior, described the conference organisation positively and noted that France is also affected by online fraud.
Reibel characterised online scams as a global threat and stressed the need for law enforcement agencies to share information and cooperate across borders.
He argued that individual countries cannot address the phenomenon effectively in isolation, highlighting the importance of cooperation between police, internal security authorities and judicial institutions.
Why Cambodia-China cooperation matters?
Online scams increasingly involve networks that operate across multiple jurisdictions, making cooperation between law enforcement agencies an important part of investigations.
For Cambodia and China, the strengthened security dialogue provides a bilateral channel alongside wider multilateral mechanisms involving international organisations and other governments.
The focus on intelligence sharing and law enforcement coordination is particularly relevant to cases where criminal networks, financial transactions, digital infrastructure and victims are located across different countries.
However, the latest meeting does not announce a specific new joint operation, investigation, technology platform or funding commitment between Cambodia and China.
Angkor Times Analysis
The latest Cambodia-China discussions indicate that online scams are being treated increasingly as a transnational organised crime and cross-border security issue, rather than simply as a domestic cybercrime problem.
Three layers of cooperation are emerging.
First is bilateral coordination, including the Cambodia-China security dialogue and the 3+3 mechanism.
Second is multilateral cooperation, illustrated by ICCOS 2026 and the Phnom Penh Declaration involving multiple countries and international organisations.
Third is operational cooperation, including intelligence sharing, financial investigations, law enforcement coordination and information exchange. The conference's commitments specifically identify these areas as necessary components of a coordinated response.
The international participation also shows that the problem extends well beyond Cambodia. Officials from the UN, Philippines and France described online fraud as a cross-border challenge requiring cooperation among law enforcement and judicial authorities.
For Cambodia, the practical test will be whether these diplomatic and institutional mechanisms translate into sustained information sharing, coordinated investigations, financial disruption, victim protection and prosecutions across jurisdictions.
The available reports establish stronger cooperation and international commitments, but they do not yet provide measurable evidence of the long-term results of the expanded Cambodia-China security coordination.
What the Phnom Penh Declaration Covers?
The Phnom Penh Declaration adopted at ICCOS 2026 contains 11 broad commitments:
- Strengthening international cooperation
- Breaking the criminal chain
- Disrupting and recovering criminal proceeds
- Using technological innovation
- Strengthening policy, legal and regulatory frameworks
- Building institutional capacity and resilience
- Deepening public-private partnerships
- Protecting trafficked victims and vulnerable people
- Applying the non-punishment principle for victims
- Preventing fraud and human trafficking
- Dismantling online scam compounds and related infrastructure
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Cambodia and China discuss?
Prime Minister Hun Manet and Chinese Vice Minister of Public Security Yang Weilin discussed strengthening bilateral security cooperation, particularly in combating transnational crime and online scams.
What is the 3+3 security mechanism?
It is an elevated Cambodia-China security dialogue mechanism that brings together relevant interior and public security ministries from both sides.
Why was the meeting held during ICCOS 2026?
Yang Weilin was in Cambodia as part of a Chinese delegation attending the International Conference on Combating Online Scams, providing an opportunity to discuss bilateral security cooperation alongside the broader international conference.
What did international officials say about Cambodia's anti-scam efforts?
UNODC's Joshua James highlighted Cambodia's efforts to shut down scam centres and said the international community had learned from Cambodia's response. Philippine and French officials also expressed support for international cooperation against online fraud.
Is online scam activity only a Cambodian problem?
No. Officials from the UN, Philippines and France described online fraud as a broader international and transnational challenge requiring cooperation among law enforcement agencies across jurisdictions.
What was the main outcome of ICCOS 2026?
Delegates adopted the Phnom Penh Declaration, which sets out 11 commitments for stronger international cooperation against online scams and related transnational criminal activities.
Did Cambodia and China announce a specific new anti-scam operation?
The supplied reports and current official reports do not identify a specific new joint operation, funding package or technology deployment arising from the September 23 meeting.