BEIJING — In an unusually stark display of its authority, China has carried out a series of executions targeting leaders of criminal syndicates operating across the border in Myanmar. The swift and decisive action, resulting in the deaths of 16 individuals in less than a week, signals a hardening approach to protecting Chinese citizens affected by widespread fraud and human trafficking operations.
The executed individuals were primarily members of four major crime families – the Bai, Ming, Xu, and Wei syndicates – notorious for running large-scale telecoms scams and illegal gambling operations in Myanmar’s Kokang region. These operations have ensnared thousands of Chinese nationals, lured by false promises of employment, only to be subjected to coercion, exploitation, and in some cases, violence.
Bai Yingcang, a core member of the Bai family, was among those executed. In a televised confession broadcast on China Central Television (CCTV), Bai issued a public apology for the harm inflicted upon Chinese citizens. “I would like to represent my entire family, to apologise for the citizens of China and the Chinese government,” he said. “Because of our family’s actions, we have caused harm to tens of thousands of Chinese people. I am deeply sorry for what we have done.”
While the victims of these crimes are Chinese nationals, the fact that China was able to secure the extradition and subsequent execution of Myanmar citizens is raising questions about regional dynamics and Beijing’s growing influence. Observers suggest that Southeast Asian nations may feel compelled to cooperate, given China’s economic and political leverage.
Lin Minwang, an international relations scholar at Fudan University, described the actions as a “display of strength,” arguing that countries in the region have “little choice” but to compromise. “If they hadn’t [cooperated], China has various means to apply pressure,” Lin said. He highlighted Myanmar’s existing vulnerabilities, noting its reliance on Chinese support amid domestic and international challenges.
The recent crackdown builds upon a legal precedent established in 2013 with the execution of Naw Kham, a Myanmar drug lord, following the Mekong River massacre in 2011, where 13 Chinese sailors were killed. This incident prompted China to assert its jurisdiction over crimes committed abroad that target its citizens, a provision enshrined in Chinese law since 1979.
The shift towards a more assertive stance reflects growing public anger within China over the proliferation of these scams. Chinese Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong has repeatedly called for intensified crackdowns, characterizing the illegal operations as a “global scourge.” Chinese envoys have also raised the issue directly with Myanmar’s authorities.
In 2023, then Foreign Minister Qin Gang, during a visit to Myanmar, underscored the seriousness with which China views the issue. “Telecom and online fraud gangs have long been entrenched in Myanmar’s border regions, seriously harming the interests of Chinese citizens, and the Chinese public is deeply angered by this,” Qin said. “The Chinese government attaches great importance to the issue and is determined to crack down on it with firm and forceful measures.”
Following the executions, China’s foreign ministry characterized the actions as “significant progress” in its efforts to protect its citizens and combat cross-border crime. The ministry emphasized the importance of enhanced law enforcement cooperation.
The case of Cambodia, another hub for cybercrime, further illustrates China’s resolve. In January, Phnom Penh revoked the citizenship of Chen Zhi, a crime boss also wanted by the United States and Britain, and extradited him to China. US$15 billion in crypto assets linked to Chen were seized by US authorities.
Wang Jiangyu, an international law professor at City University of Hong Kong, noted that the extraditions demonstrate China’s increasing sway in the region. “The key members of the four big crime families in Myanmar were apprehended by China, undoubtedly demonstrating China’s influence in regional diplomacy and its power in those surrounding countries,” Wang said. “The local governments did not cooperate willingly – they acted under pressure.”
Lin Minwang of Fudan University suggested that China is prioritizing domestic interests over conventional diplomatic considerations. “This goes beyond conventional diplomatic framing,” he said. “China as a major power is prioritising domestic interests. In this latest round of actions, the driving considerations appear to be primarily domestic, with diplomatic concerns likely taking a secondary place.”
The executions and extraditions represent a significant escalation in China’s response to the growing problem of transnational crime targeting its citizens. They also highlight the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in Southeast Asia, where China’s economic and political influence is steadily increasing. The long-term implications for regional stability and cooperation remain to be seen.
Multinational victims of scam centres, who were tricked or trafficked into working in Myanmar, stand on a vessel floating towards the Thai side of border via Moei River in Phop Phra District, Tak province, Thailand, on . (Photo: Reuters)
