China Executes 11 Members of Myanmar-Based Scam Syndicate Amid Anti-Corruption Push
China executed 11 members of a Myanmar-based mafia family on Thursday, January 29, 2026, after they were found guilty of killing 14 Chinese citizens, illegal detention, and fraud, according to Sky News. The Ming family, including Ming Guoping, Ming Zhenzhen, Zhou Weichang, Wu Hongming, and Luao Jianzhang, were sentenced to death in September for running a crime syndicate worth more than $1 billion. The Wenzhou city Intermediate People's Court announced the executions in a statement.
The executions come amid a broader anti-corruption crackdown within China, spearheaded by President Xi Jinping. This crackdown extends beyond organized crime and has reached into the realm of sports, specifically football. Al Jazeera reported that the Chinese football association issued lifetime bans to 73 people, including former national team head coach Li Tie, who is already serving a 20-year sentence for bribery. Thirteen top professional clubs were also punished for match-fixing and corruption. According to Al Jazeera, the anti-corruption campaign has exposed the "rotten state of the professional game" in China.
President Xi Jinping's influence extends beyond domestic issues. Keir Starmer, the first British Prime Minister to visit China since Theresa May in 2018, met with Xi Jinping to bring "stability and clarity" to the UK's approach to Beijing, The Guardian reported. China's role in green technology and the global economy makes it a crucial partner for the UK, necessitating strategic discussions.
Meanwhile, Venezuela is looking to China for economic inspiration. The Guardian reported that Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela's leader, is promoting an era of reform and opening up modeled on China's post-Mao boom, potentially positioning herself as a "Latin American Deng Xiaoping."
In other international news, tensions between the United States and Iran continue to escalate. Al Jazeera reported that the US and Iran are engaged in increasingly hostile rhetoric as US warships move into the Arabian Sea. President Trump warned that time is running out for Iran to return to talks for a new nuclear deal.
Discussion
Join the conversation
Be the first to comment