Chinese judicial authorities have launched an unprecedented offensive against transnational telecommunications fraud, with prosecutors bringing charges against more than 62,000 individuals during the first eleven months of 2025. The Supreme People’s Procuratorate disclosed these substantial figures on Wednesday, highlighting the nation’s intensified campaign to combat sophisticated cybercrime networks operating across international borders.
The crackdown has particularly focused on criminal syndicates based in northern Myanmar, with Chinese law enforcement agencies approving the arrest of over 4,300 fraud suspects repatriated from the region. Additionally, prosecutors have pursued legal action against more than 11,000 repatriated individuals, creating a powerful deterrent effect against cross-border fraudulent activities. This represents a significant demonstration of China’s judicial jurisdiction over serious transnational crimes, including the prosecution of foreign ringleaders orchestrating these operations.
According to Du Xueyi, head of the SPP’s economic crime prosecution department, the systematic handling of these complex cases has reinforced China’s rule-of-law authority while generating positive legal, social, and international outcomes. Provincial procuratorates in Zhejiang, Guangdong, and Fujian have taken the lead in addressing major cases involving several large cross-border criminal organizations, with the Supreme People’s Procuratorate providing comprehensive supervision and guidance throughout the judicial process.
The judicial outcomes have been notably severe, with courts successfully concluding trials for two major criminal syndicates. Sixteen defendants received death sentences with immediate execution, seven were sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, and sixteen others received life imprisonment terms, reflecting the gravity of these offenses under Chinese law.
Beyond direct fraud perpetrators, authorities have targeted the supporting infrastructure of these criminal operations. Prosecutors charged more than 29,000 individuals for facilitating information network criminal activities between January and November 2025, addressing the entire ecosystem that enables telecom fraud to flourish.
Recognizing the global nature of cybercrime, China has actively pursued international cooperation through bilateral and multilateral mechanisms. The country participated in negotiations for the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, which China formally signed in October 2025, demonstrating its commitment to collaborative solutions against this transnational challenge.