Organized Crime in the People’s Republic

back

Title: Investigative Reporter: A Decade Undercover (暗访十年)
Language: Chinese
Author: Li Yaosha (李幺傻)
Publisher: Yunnan People’s Publishing House (云南人民出版社)
Launch: May 2010

The author appeared at the book launch wearing a mask and flanked by twenty bodyguards. Just a bit of theatrics, or out of a pressing need for protection?

Given his profession, it might well be the latter. Li claims to have worked as an undercover investigative journalist for a solid decade. In his reportage, he takes us inside the labyrinth of Chinese organized crime: hordes of beggars forced to panhandle for their honchos; prostitution of all stripes; and the horrific industry---read the chapter entitled Nationwide Suggogate Mother Franchise---that has grown up around “rent-a-womb” mothers in the People’s Republic.

If the author needs bodyguards in 2010, it may well be due to his modus operandi over the years. According to the press release, he not only investigated these rackets; he bravely (but perhaps not wisely) helped the police arrest the criminals running them.