China has announced significant progress in its multinational campaign against cross-border telecom and online fraud, with a Foreign Ministry spokesperson confirming the execution of four senior members of a Myanmar-based criminal syndicate on February 2, 2026. The individuals, part of the Bai family group, were sentenced to death in November 2025 for charges spanning intentional homicide, drug trafficking, and large-scale fraud operations targeting victims across Asia.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian emphasized that Beijing's collaboration with Myanmar and other regional partners has disrupted over 120 transnational fraud networks since 2025, recovering approximately $2.3 billion in illicit assets. "Our joint operations have dismantled the infrastructure enabling these crimes, from illegal call centers to money laundering channels," Lin stated during a press briefing.
The crackdown comes as telecom scams reportedly account for 38% of all cybercrime complaints in Southeast Asia this year, according to preliminary ASEAN data. Analysts note improved real-time intelligence sharing between Chinese and Myanmar authorities has reduced average fraud case resolution times from 14 months to 63 days.
China plans to launch a regional anti-fraud task force in Q2 2026, building on existing mechanisms like the China-Myanmar Police Cooperation Center established in Kunming last year. The initiative aims to standardize cross-border digital evidence collection and streamline extradition processes for fraud suspects.
