China executes 11 for running major fraud operations based in Myanmar

BEIJING — China on Thursday executed 11 people linked to criminal syndicates in Myanmar, including "key members" of fraud operations that have fueled a multi-billion dollar illicit industry, state media reported.

The executions follow a September ruling by a court in Wenzhou, where the defendants were convicted of intentional murder, intentional injury, illegal detention, and fraud. China’s Supreme People’s Court approved the sentences, stating the evidence against the group was "conclusive and sufficient."

Among those executed were members of the "Ming family crime group," a notorious organization linked to the deaths of 14 Chinese citizens. The gang operated within fraud zones that have proliferated along the Myanmar border.

These scam centers are often run by foreigners, many of whom are Chinese nationals. While some are high-level operators, many workers claim they were trafficked and forced into running online scams under duress.

Beijing has intensified its crackdown on these operations by increasing cooperation with Southeast Asian neighbors. In addition to Myanmar, similar large-scale fraud centers are also active in Laos and Cambodia.

China’s execution of 11 individuals, including key leaders of a Myanmar-based telecommunications fraud syndicate, marks a calculated escalation in Beijing’s campaign against transnational organized crime. The move is less a standard law enforcement procedure and more a high-stakes projection of power intended to serve as a definitive deterrent.

At its core, the executions signal Beijing’s commitment to protecting its citizens regardless of geographic boundaries. By prosecuting and sentencing individuals in a Wenzhou court for crimes committed on Myanmar soil, China is asserting a robust doctrine of extraterritorial jurisdiction. This establishes a significant legal precedent: transnational criminal organizations targeting Chinese nationals will be held accountable under Chinese law, effectively eroding the perceived sanctuary of border regions.

Furthermore, the move exerts direct sovereign pressure on regional neighbors—specifically Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos—where scam centers have proliferated in recent years. Through these executions, Beijing is signaling that superficial diplomatic cooperation is no longer sufficient. The recent uptick in the extradition of high-profile suspects back to China suggests that this hardline approach is already compelling regional authorities to align more closely with Beijing’s security priorities.

Domestically, the use of capital punishment in these cases is likely to garner widespread public support. Given the sheer volume of Chinese citizens victimized by sophisticated online fraud, the state’s uncompromising stance reinforces the image of a government capable of maintaining order and delivering retribution. Ultimately, these executions represent a public performance of the "rule of law," underscored by a clear and uncompromising political will to suppress any threats to social stability.

The Vietnamese diaspora has increasingly found itself targeted by sophisticated online scams. In this particular case, however, the activity is directly linked to Chinese criminal syndicates and nationals.