China reveals cases highlighting ecological security threats

BEIJING -- On the occasion of the National Security Education Day in China, the Ministry of Public Security unveiled five typical cases related to ecological security threats on Monday. The objective was to further raise awareness across society of the importance of safeguarding national ecological security.

Among the disclosed cases were instances of illegal land occupation, environmental pollution, destructive lumbering, illegal fishing, and unauthorized mining. These activities, which are detrimental to ecological integrity, reflect a range of issues that need to be addressed.

One such case involved arbitrary tree-felling by individuals in Antu county, Northeast China's Jilin province. In March 2023, the county's forest public security bureau cracked a major case of illegal logging. From April 2020 to January 2021, the suspects hired villagers to engage in unauthorized logging activities within a collective forest area in Longjing city, inflicting economic losses exceeding 8 million yuan ($1.13 million).

Similarly, in Honghu city of Central China's Hubei province, a series of cases involving illegal fishing were uncovered in April 2023, with 52 suspects arrested. The suspects organized large-scale illegal fishing activities between January and December 2022. It was verified that over 65,000 kilograms of aquatic products had been illegally caught by the suspects.

An official with the ministry's food and drug crime investigation bureau emphasized that ecological security is an integral part of national security, saying the public security authorities will adopt a "zero-tolerance" attitude towards ecological security crimes.