China executes 11 members of Myanmar-based telecom fraud crime group

China on Thursday executed 11 members of the Ming family criminal group for large-scale cross-border telecom fraud and violent crimes targeting Chinese citizens.

The executions followed final approval by the Supreme People's Court, after appeals by the defendants were rejected and original death sentences upheld.

According to the court, the Ming family criminal group, led by Ming Guoping and Ming Zhenzhen, had since 2015 operated multiple crime compounds in Laukkai and surrounding areas of Myanmar's Kokang region, including Shiyuanzi and Qingshuihe. The group provided armed protection to telecom fraud syndicates and engaged in telecom fraud, illegal gambling and other criminal activities.

Authorities said the group recruited and sheltered multiple fraud ring leaders and facilitated large-scale telecom scams and gambling operations, with fraud- and gambling-related funds exceeding 10 billion yuan (about 1.44 billion U.S. dollars).

The Ming group also collaborated with other telecom fraud syndicates to carry out violent crimes, including intentional homicide, intentional injury and unlawful detention of fraud workers, resulting in the deaths of 14 Chinese nationals and injuries to several others.

The Supreme People's Court found that Ming Guoping, Ming Zhenzhen, Zhou Weichang, Wu Hongming, Wu Senlong, Fu Yubin and others had organized, led or participated in criminal groups committing a wide range of offenses, including fraud, operating casinos, intentional killing, intentional injury and unlawful detention.

The court said the crimes were particularly severe in nature, with grave consequences, and that the original verdicts were based on clear facts, sufficient evidence and lawful judicial procedures. It therefore approved the death sentences.

Following receipt of the execution orders, the Wenzhou Intermediate People's Court in east China's Zhejiang Province carried out the executions in accordance with the law. The defendants' close relatives were allowed to meet with them prior to the executions.

Chinese authorities have stepped up efforts in recent years to dismantle telecom fraud networks operating in northern Myanmar, following a joint crackdown launched by China and Myanmar in 2023.

China executes 11 members of Myanmar-based telecom fraud crime group

Trade volume between China and Russia surged 19.7 percent year on year to reach 85.2 billion U.S. dollars during the January-April period, marking a good start to this year, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.

He Yadong, spokesman for the commerce ministry, said at a regular press briefing that the annual trade between the two countries has exceeded 200 billion U.S. dollars for three consecutive years.

The ministry and relevant Russian authorities have signed cooperation documents on trade and support for multilateralism, He said.

The spokesman said the two sides will continue to strengthen communication on economic and trade policies, leverage new quality productive forces to create fresh engines for growth, and upgrade trade in goods and services.

"The annual trade volume between China and Russia has exceeded 200 billion U.S. dollars for three consecutive years. Trade between the two countries got off to a good start this year as the trade volume during the January-April period reached 85.2 billion U.S. dollars, up 19.7 percent year on year. As the upgraded China-Russia agreement on promotion and reciprocal protection of investments has officially come into effect, investment and cooperation in industrial and supply chains between the two countries are set to see continuous improvements with deepening sub-national cooperation. Not long ago, the two heads of state sent congratulatory letters to the 10th China-Russia Expo, fully demonstrating their deep expectations for strengthening local cooperation between the two countries," He said.

"Next, the commerce ministry will earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, and work to improve and upgrade bilateral economic and trade cooperation to lay a solid foundation for the development of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era. The two sides will also enhance mutual collaboration in multilateral and regional cooperation, jointly contributing to safeguarding a fair and reasonable international economic order," He said.

China-Russia trade up 19.7 pct in Jan-April