Key facts
- China has begun a year-long nationwide campaign against organized crime.
- The initiative aims to eliminate entrenched local syndicates and digital extortion rings.
- Authorities have stated they will avoid the judicial overreach seen in past campaigns.
- The crackdown began in July and is directed by top leadership.
China has initiated a new, year-long nationwide crackdown on organized crime, commencing in July. The campaign, directed by top leadership and reported by Xinhua News Agency, aims to dismantle entrenched local syndicates and digital extortion rings that have drawn significant public complaints. This initiative marks the first major anti-gang effort since the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the second such campaign in the past decade. A key pledge accompanying this sweep is the commitment by authorities to avoid the zealous judicial overreach that has previously ensnared private businesses during similar operations.