Chinese actor Wang Xing 'missing' in Thailand

[This story has been updated].

Wang Xing, widely beloved as "Xing Xing," has vanished without a trace near the enigmatic Thailand-Myanmar border, setting off a cascade of concern and speculation.

The Bangkok Post reported the unsettling news, igniting alarm across international channels and social media.

The 22-year-old actor was last seen in Mae Sot, a district in northwestern Thailand bordering Myanmar’s Myawaddy, infamous as a hub for illicit operations and scam compounds.

Amidst growing fear, China's consulate in Chiang Mai has pledged to uphold the safety of its citizens in Thailand — but so far, the details are sparse.

A Sunday (January 5, 2025) night bombshell on social media revealed that Wang Xing (also known as "Xing Xing") vanished shortly after arriving in Mae Sot.

This quiet town, sitting ominously close to the murky dealings of Myawaddy, seems to hold the key to a mounting mystery.

Wang had flown into Bangkok early Friday morning, reportedly invited to participate in a film production.

But this story soon unraveled into mystery.

A social media post, allegedly authored by Wang’s girlfriend, claimed that a person who presented himself as a film crew member escorted him through Thai immigration.

What followed reads like a thriller’s darkest chapter.

Instead of heading to the safety of a hotel near the airport as initially arranged, Wang was coaxed into abandoning those plans.

The alleged associate director of the film urged him to "rush to the filming location."

The destination: Mae Sot — 490 km away (about 6-1/2 hours by car). 

Somewhere on that long, winding road, Wang vanished. All communication ceased, leaving nothing but echoes of his last known movements.

The "girlfriend" immediately raised the alarm with Shanghai police and contacted both the Chinese embassy in Bangkok and the Chiang Mai consulate.

However, her plea for help was reportedly redirected: she was instructed to report the case to local Mae Sot police.

Meanwhile, confusion deepened as neither Thai authorities nor Wang’s family filed formal police reports as of Monday afternoon.

China’s embassy in Myanmar has stepped in, launching inquiries to determine whether Wang crossed into Myawaddy.

Call for action

As the world watches with a mix of dread and hope, the search for Wang intensifies.

For now, the shadows of Mae Sot hide the truth. But one thing is clear: this is a story far from over. The drama is real, and the stakes have never been higher.

Erratum:

Wang Xing was the Chinese actor who reportedly went missing near the Thailand-Myanmar border — not Wang Xing Yue, 22, another Chinese actor (who debuted in 2019 with the film "Deep Water Zone”), who was erroneously reported as the person missing.

While both individuals share similar names and are involved in the Chinese entertainment industry, they are distinct actors with separate careers.

The error is deeply regretted.