The Benevolent Face of Controversy in the Golden Triangle

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This chapter explores the controversial figure of Zhao Wei, a Chinese businessman claiming to uplift the Golden Triangle through tourism and economic development. It critically examines the contrast between his self-image and the region's dark reputation, questioning the authenticity of his purported progress.

A Chinese businessman persuaded officials to establish a special economic zone in a remote part of Laos. The gamblers arrived first. Then came the drug runners, human traffickers and scammers.

On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, host K. Oanh Ha speaks with Bloomberg Businessweek editor Matt Campbell about his investigation into the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone and how it became a criminal’s paradise.