Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has defended its decision to deport Chinese national Chen Zhi, stating that the Cambodian citizenship that he secured in 2014 was obtained through improper means, according to local media outlet Cambodia China Times.
Legal ground for revocation
In a statement issued by the Ministry on Monday, Chen’s citizenship revocation and deportation were carried out in accordance with Cambodian law. They have dismissed the allegations that the move was politically motivated.
Cambodian officials emphasised that the case involved the misuse of legal procedures to acquire nationality, framing the decision as a matter of national interest rather than external pressure. However, the case has drawn scrutiny over Cambodia’s handling of high-profile foreign investors and its cooperation with international law enforcement on transnational crimes.
Arrest and extradition
On January 6, chairman of Prince Group Conglomerate, Chen was arrested alongside two others following months of joint investigation with Chinese authorities. The Ministry of Interior noted that his citizenship was revoked prior to his extradition, citing that Cambodia’s commitment is to combat transnational offenses.
Authorities also asserted that Chen’s nationality was acquired through fraudulent or improper means, grounds for revocation under Cambodian law, particularly when national security or public interest is at stake. Still, the statement did not provide specific details about the alleged irregularities in his case.
International sanctions and indictments
Additionally, Chen has been on the radar of several Western governments. On 14 October 2025, the U.S. Treasury Department and the U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office enforced sanctions against Chen and his affiliated entities, accusing Prince Group of involvement in online fraud and human trafficking. The U.S. Department of Justice also unsealed an indictment alleging Chen oversaw forced-labor scam operations in Cambodia that defrauded victims worldwide.
Chen’s expanding crackdown
According to China’s state-run Xinhua, it reported on January 8 that Chen and his associates are suspected of crimes ranging from fraud to concealing illicit proceeds. Chinese authorities are preparing arrest warrants for other alleged members of the network and have made calls to fugitives linked to the crime led by Chen to surrender by 15 February 2026.
Those who decide to turn themselves in before the deadline could receive reduced sentences, according to a statement from the Ministry of Public Security that was sent out earlier this month. Meanwhile, Prince Group has dismissed the accusations from U.S. and U.K. authorities as “baseless” and politically motivated.
Broader context
Cambodia has handled several deportation and citizenship revocation cases based primarily on immigration law violations rather than external political pressure. But these cases are rare and usually involve visa overstays, fraudulent nationality claims, or criminal activity tied to residency status.
High-profile deportations like in Chen’s case are linked to transnational crime investigations, while routine immigration based deportations occur more frequently but attract less international scrutiny.
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