BEIJING, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- China is stepping up its fight against organized crime, with a particular focus on emerging offenses involving online platforms and non-violent forms of coercion, as part of broader efforts to maintain public security and build a safer society.
In July, a one-year nationwide campaign was launched to crack down on emerging forms of organized crime, including those involving online platforms and less visible forms of coercion.
As part of the campaign, the Supreme People's Procuratorate said Tuesday that procuratorial authorities have targeted offenses that range from online predatory lending and coercive debt collection to extortion through online public opinion, forced consumption and sex-related blackmail. They also target "soft violence" such as stalking, harassment and intimidation.
Prosecutors nationwide have approved the arrests of 342 suspects in 104 organized crime cases and prosecuted 900 people in 151 cases, the top procuratorate said in a statement.
Procuratorial agencies are also investigating officials suspected of facilitating or shielding organized crime. Seven judicial personnel in six cases have been placed under investigation for suspected duty-related crimes, as authorities vow to work with other law enforcement and disciplinary agencies to target networks providing protection to criminal groups.
Prosecutors will sustain pressure on organized crime while strictly applying legal standards, neither over-classifying ordinary offenses as organized crime nor downgrading cases that meet the legal threshold, according to the statement.
The nationwide campaign comes against a backdrop of declining crime and a growing sense of security among the public in China. Official figures show that criminal cases in the country fell 12.8 percent year on year in 2025, reaching their lowest level since 2000.
Over the past years, China has advanced its "Peaceful China" initiative, with efforts ranging from combating serious violent crime and telecom fraud to strengthening grassroots governance.
At a July meeting on the campaign, a senior Chinese official in charge of political and legal affairs called for closer study of emerging forms of organized crime and stronger preventive measures in key industries and regions, so as to prevent such crime from taking root and further enhance people's sense of security.
