Is blackmail illegal in china

In China, blackmail is illegal and punishable under the country's criminal law. The Chinese Criminal Law (1997) and the Criminal Procedure Law (1996) both prohibit blackmail and provide penalties for those who engage in this activity.

Article 246 of the Chinese Criminal Law states that "whoever, by threatening to harm the reputation or property of another, or by threatening to report another to the authorities, demands or accepts property or other benefits, shall be sentenced to imprisonment of not more than three years or criminal detention, and may also be fined."

Article 247 of the same law states that "whoever, by threatening to harm the life, body or dignity of another, demands or accepts property or other benefits, shall be sentenced to imprisonment of not more than five years or criminal detention, and may also be fined."

In addition to these criminal provisions, China's Civil Code (2020) also prohibits blackmail and provides remedies for victims. Article 123 of the Civil Code states that "whoever, by threatening to harm the reputation or property of another, or by threatening to report another to the authorities, demands or accepts property or other benefits, shall be liable for damages and may also be ordered to compensate for the losses caused."

The Chinese government has taken steps to combat blackmail and other forms of extortion. For example, in 2019, the Ministry of Public Security launched a campaign to crack down on online blackmail and extortion, and in 2020, the Supreme People's Court issued a judicial interpretation on the application of the criminal law in cases of blackmail and extortion.

Despite these efforts, blackmail remains a significant problem in China, particularly in the context of online harassment and extortion. According to a 2020 report by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the number of reported cases of blackmail and extortion in China increased by 15% between 2018 and 2019.

In summary, blackmail is illegal in China and is punishable under the country's criminal law. The Chinese government has taken steps to combat this problem, but it remains a significant issue in the country.