Topic: 2025-Combating Transnational Organized Crime
Country: People’s Republic of China
Delegate Name: KenZie Low
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
Combating Transnational Organized Crime
People’s Republic of China
KenZie Low
City High Middle
In 2000, the United Nations adopted the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime. This treaty was adopted to more effectively combat transnational crime and promote international cooperation. However, transnational organized crime still remains a pressing international issue. Around 870 billion USD are lost to transnational organized crime. Transnational organized crime can take a variety of methods such as drug and human trafficking or money laundering. This form of crime, however, keeps the consistent factor of generating significant profit at the cost of human lives or well-being. It is a detrimental issue that is fueled by corruption, violence, government instability, and weak border controls. The profits generated by transnational organized crime can support corrupt state officials and criminals, or fund terrorist groups. While transnational organized crime is a significant issue for the cartels in Latin America or the instability in Africa, it affects the entire international community and causes harm to everyone. China’s government is taking serious measures to counteract transnational organized crime. The country wishes to eliminate this issue to promote anti-corruption and security for its citizens and the international community.
The stringent authority of the Chinese government has significantly reduced the number of transnational organized crimes within the state despite its large population. Many transnational organized crimes that are prevalent in other nations are not a concern in China, such as gun trafficking. However, while China is not high on the transnational organized crime scale, the country is known as a hub for a few of these crimes. These crimes are usually committed by gangs and corrupt state officials in China. Specifically, China is a source of illicit drugs. While drugs are illegal in China and the government severely punishes those who participate in drug trafficking, China remains one of the largest heroin and synthetic drug markets. Human trafficking is also a large issue in China and one of the most commonly committed and serious crimes committed in the nation. They use coercion on victims while exploiting them through sex work or forced labor and sometimes smuggle these victims across borders. China is also notorious for the illegal production and selling of counterfeit goods, as well as environmental transnational crime. Despite this, China has ratified several international conventions at conferences aiming to combat transnational crime. The nation is actively involved in the United Nations pertaining to transnational crime, with examples such as Ambassador Zhang Jun attending the UN Security Council Open Debate on Transnational Organized Crime. China continues to support the UNODC and other nations through the UN Peace and Development Trust fund and other agencies, helping to improve law enforcement in nations bound by government instability and violence. China has also agreed to return any assets to nations that were taken through crime. In 2021, China created its first anti-organized crime law (AOCL). This law defined organized crime and enabled authorities to take stronger measures to prevent and punish perpetrators of transnational organized crime. In 2022, China launched the Global Security Initiative (GSI) under President Xi Jinping. The initiative would take measures to create national security in a rapidly evolving world. Thus, as part of the GSI, China has been working closely with Southeast Asia to increase transparency and hinder perpetrators from further committing transnational organized crime. In March 2023, organizations from China, Thailand, and Myanmar had the first trilateral consultation regarding human trafficking, aiming to combat the growing human trafficking in Thailand and Myanmar. The GSI has also worked to combat online fraud in Southeast Asia. China has also been working with BRICS on this issue. In terms of technology, China’s strong control of the internet in their country and ban on cryptocurrencies plus their technological uniform advancements have prevented transnational crime involving technology. China’s strict gun laws have also prevented gun trafficking from being an issue. The strict protection of legitimate businesses in China has prevented money laundering from being an issue as well. China is also beginning to implement drug recovery programs for victims of international drug trafficking. While topics such as transnational human trafficking continue to be a prevalent and pressing issue for China, the nation’s strong government authority has established order and resulted in a decline in transnational organized crime.
China believes that transnational organized crime is best combated through strong law enforcement. China encourages other nations to strengthen government authority, correctly punish and prevent transnational organized crime, and eliminate loopholes. Additionally, increased regulation and control over certain modes of transnational organized crime, such as cryptocurrencies and drugs, can further hinder perpetrators from committing such crimes. China believes investigating the root causes of these crimes can create long-term solutions as well. The delegation of China urges other nations to resolve domestic disputes to eradicate incentives for citizens to commit transnational organized crime. Adopting a global security framework similar to China’s Global Security Initiative can allow nations to increase transparency and promote cooperation. China calls for the involvement of groups such as the UNODC as well on this issue. China will continue to create and enforce strong authority to mitigate transnational organized crime, specifically human and drug trafficking. The nation encourages the globe to work cooperatively to tackle this issue.
Works Cited
Chinese Mission to the United States. “Remarks by China’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Zhang Jun at the UN Security Council Open Debate on Transnational Organized Crime_Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China.” Fmprc.gov.cn, 2023, www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/xw/zwbd/202405/t20240530_11365943.html.
Global Organized Crime Index. “Criminality in China – the Organized Crime Index.” Ocindex.net, 2023, ocindex.net/country/china.
Jittiang, Bhanubhatra. “How Crime in Southeast Asia Fits into China’s Global Security Initiative.” United States Institute of Peace, 8 Jan. 2025, www.usip.org/publications/2025/01/how-crime-southeast-asia-fits-chinas-global-security-initiative.
United Nations. “What Is Transnational Organized Crime? | United Nations.” United Nations, 2024, www.un.org/en/peace-and-security/transnational-crime.
Wei, Changhao, and Taige Hu. ““Sweep Away Darkness, Eliminate Evil”: A Belated Overview of China’s First Organized Crime Law.” NPC Observer, 14 Dec. 2022, npcobserver.com/2022/12/sweep-away-darkness-eliminate-evil-a-belated-overview-of-chinas-first-organized-crime-law/.
