Commentary: Law Enforcement Shakedowns Highlight Need for Stronger Protection of Businesses’ Rights

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In May 2023, two law enforcement officers from an undisclosed province traveled to Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces to extort business owners under the pretext of official investigations. Photo: VCG

Zhejiang’s provincial procuratorate on Wednesday held a press conference announcing that their “enterprise protection” campaign against local enforcement overreach had helped 123 companies unfreeze over 70 million yuan ($9.7 million) in accounts, release six properties and recover 20 vehicles from questionable law enforcement actions. But one case stands out as particularly troubling.

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Zhejiang's campaign helped 123 companies recover over $9.7 million and properties from questionable law enforcement, highlighting local enforcement overreach.
Concerns arose after two officers from another province extorted business owners, prompting lenient punishment and broader regulatory calls.
Beijing's efforts to regulate enforcement include Politburo and economic commission measures, but local hesitance and light penalties remain problematic.

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What Happened When

May 2023：: Two law enforcement officers traveled to Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces to extort business owners under the guise of investigating cases.

June 11, 2023：: The officers abducted entrepreneur Shen from his home in Wujiang, Jiangsu, and he escaped by jumping from their moving vehicle in Deqing county, Zhejiang.

September 2023：: The Politburo meeting called for stricter regulation of business-related law enforcement.

October 2023：: The National Development and Reform Commission followed with specific measures against illegal cross-provincial law enforcement and profit-driven law enforcement action.

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