The detention of 18 Crown Resorts employees in China sends a chilling effect to Star Entertainment Group chief executive Matt Bekier.

Australian Financial Review reported that Bekier was supposed to attend a series of meeting in Macau last Tuesday but The Star boss decided to skip his scheduled trip to the former Portuguese colony five days after the supposed crackdown in Crown Resorts casino.

Many find it surprising that Bekier skipped his trip to Macau, especially since The Star executive quietly flies to Asia’s premier gaming hub every quarter to visit the company’s joint venture partners, HongKong-based investors Chow Tai Fook and Far East Consortium.

Even a Star spokesman did not offer a single reason why Bekier cancelled his Macau trip.