One Belt, One Road: Many Routes for Transnational Crime and Its Suppression in China

Abstract

Among the many objectives of China’s “One Belt, One Road” (OBOR) initiative, the creation of new opportunities for trade and investment and thereby boosting economic development in the region must be considered the central pillar. Although OBOR will probably be a stimulus to the economy in the region, there may be some unintended consequences. In a recent study the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) pointed towards OBOR, among other inter-regional projects of economic integration, as a typical facilitator of severe transnational crimes such as drug smuggling and human trafficking. The UNODC study clearly shows the necessity and explicitly recommends the incorporation of risk assessment, developing safeguard policies and strengthening cross-border cooperation of law enforcement. Hence, the OBOR initiative should address the issue of cross-border crime along with its prevention and suppression. This paper considers how China is meeting these recommendations. For this purpose, it briefly introduces the concept of transnational crime in contrast to international crime in its strictest sense and then explores the relationship between cross-border crime and economic integration. Furthermore, it elaborates on China’s approach to and involvement in substantial and procedural issues of transnational criminal law in the geographical context of OBOR. Finally, it offers a tentative evaluation of China’s efforts to suppress cross-border crime.