Illicit Political Economy

Abstract

Abstract This chapter looks at the illicit dimension of China’s regional economy in Southeast Asia. As a result of the recent globalization of Chinese capital, the movement of such criminal networks has accompanied capital flows abroad. The chapter looks at how the growth of the online casino economy has been deeply tied with Chinese capital looking for investment opportunities in Southeast Asia. Closely associated with these opportunities are the online scammers who specifically target ethnic Chinese communities across national boundaries. The chapter then tentatively discusses the relationship between the illicit economies and the existing Special Economic Zones in Southeast Asia, and how the lack of state regulation and capacity and rampant corruption have facilitated the growth of these illicit activities.