TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan is in talks with Cambodia to stop 179 Taiwanese suspected of fraud from being extradited to China.

On March 31, police raided a telecom fraud center in Phnom Penh, arresting the Taiwanese suspects and over 300 Chinese nationals, per CNA. They are scheduled to be extradited to China on April 13. 

A police liaison officer for Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Bureau said Thursday the government has been negotiating for the Taiwanese suspects to be sent to Taiwan. 

Local news outlets in Cambodia said the Taiwanese suspects have been extradited to China for trial as a goodwill gesture.

Government data showed that between 2016 and 2024, approximately 600 Taiwanese were arrested while overseas and extradited to China for suspected telecom fraud. Since the countries had signed extradition treaties with China, the Taiwanese suspects were sent to China instead of Taiwan to face legal punishment.