With Increased Kidnapping in China, Who is At Risk?

With Increased Kidnapping in China, Who is At Risk?
May 06, 2015 By eChinacities.com

Editor's Note: This article translated from the Chinese media purports that China's wealthy and famous are more at risk than ever of being kidnapped for ransom. A woman in Hong Kong was recently kidnapped for ransom and her kidnappers escaped. The author discusses the rise of wealth in China alongside the rise of kidnapping- the two seem to have gone hand in hand. Of course, most kidnappings before the 21st century in China most likely went unrecorded, so the author's data is not entirely trustworthy.

On April 28, Hong Kong kidnapping victim, Queenie Rosita Law, granddaughter of Law Ting-pong, was rescued after her family paid out a ransom of 28 million Hong Kong Dollars (about 22.41 million Yuan). The police set up blockades, attempting to ambush the suspects but the six kidnappers escaped. The Law family is one of Hong Kong's garment industry giants. Law Ting-pong founded well-known clothing brand Bossini.

Millionaires and Billionaires

After the Reform and Opening Up Period, China's new wealthy class expanded rapidly in the early 1980s. At that time, becoming a millionaire could make one a national sensation. However, now, in the 21st century, billionaires are common in China. Because of this, incidences of kidnapping and demanding ransom have the potential to become more common.

In Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang and other provinces in the southeast, there have been a number of reported kidnappings in recent years. Kidnappers have also begun to demand more money: ransoms can be as high as hundreds of thousands or even million of Yuan. Criminals also often threaten to kill the victims if the ransom is not paid.

Worse than Colombia?

There were 5 reported cases of kidnapping in China in 1984. In 1985, there were 12 reported cases, in 1986 there were 16 cases, and in 1987 there were 29 reported cases. 20 years later, in 2004, the Ministry of Public Security announced that the number of reported kidnapping cases was 3,863. South American nation Colombia is world recognized for high numbers of kidnapping, in 2001 the country had about 3,000 cases.

There is no doubt that kidnapping is on the rise in China, especially kidnapping of the rich. The main targets of kidnappers in China are the rich and famous- affluent entrepreneurs, athletes, and other celebrities. The second most common targets are students with wealthy families who are left unprotected.

Economic Kidnapping

Chinese expert on kidnapping Zhang Changrong said, “The kidnapping occurring in China at the present time is economic kidnapping. Almost all of the perpetrators are looking for money- their goals and objectives are very clear. At present, many of China's rich are in danger of being kidnapped. It has become an indisputable fact.

Wealthy Chinese living in southeast coastal areas are more at risk of being kidnapped. Cities in these areas have the highest concentration of wealth in all of China In Fujian, the number of kidnappings increasing significantly from 1995 to 2001. In 2001, there were 1,200 reported cases of kidnapping, and the number later increased to 1,500. A few years later, the number of kidnappings in the area began to fall, but the figures do not include cases that went unreported by the victims.

Source: QQ News

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Keywords: Kidnapping in China Wealthy Chinese kidnapping

4 Comments

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BobC

LOL, reminds me of an article I read, I don't remember if I brought it up here before but it was a Mexican scholar rebuffing the idea that Mexico will become the next China but, his position, was that China will become the next Mexico. In regards, to the corruption and it's effect on the economy, in other words stagnating it. Looks like they are on the way with kidnappings as well!

May 07, 2015 09:54 Report Abuse

Guest2781358

More economic disparity = more violent crimes

Jul 13, 2015 02:41 Report Abuse

sorrel

Spare a thought for the thousands of children stolen to order every year, and the women trafficked to the sticks for the 'leftover' men. Oh wait, they are not from wealthy families so no one cares.

May 06, 2015 00:29 Report Abuse

Guest2503130

You've hit the nail on the head. Kind of a similar logic to that of the Cheng Guan harrassing harmless street vendors whilst 4x4s park all over pavements without any fine.

May 06, 2015 14:47 Report Abuse