China's Wang Yi Meets Thailand, Laos and Myanmar Officials in Regional Push

China's top diplomat went on a handshake spree Tuesday. Foreign Minister Wang Yi held separate meetings with officials from Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, pushing Beijing's influence deeper into Southeast Asia.

The Myanmar sit-down carried the most weight. Wang said China backs the government's push for political reconciliation, according to statements from China's foreign ministry — a notable show of support for a regime under intense pressure at home.

That government is run by the former general who seized power in a 2021 coup, igniting a civil war the United Nations estimates has killed 100,000 people and forced more than 3.5 million from their homes.

With Thailand, Wang pressed for sharper joint action on gambling and telecom fraud. The two countries have been chasing sprawling illegal call-centre networks strung along the Thai border with Myanmar and Cambodia, operations often staffed by trafficked workers and aimed at defrauding people through phone and online scams.

The flurry of meetings is part of a broader courtship. Beijing, the world's second-largest economy, is working to widen its footprint among its Southeast Asian neighbours, and its backing could prove especially valuable to Myanmar's isolated leadership.

No new agreements were announced. But the choreography — three neighbours, one day, one message — makes China's priorities clear.