BEIJING: In response to the problem of nationally protected birds being illegally hunted and sold, from August to December 2025, the Chinese Ministry of Public Security (MPS) deployed organs nationwide to carry out the Ping’an Yuanye-2025 (Safe Wilderness-2025) special campaign. During the operation, a total of 9,705 criminal cases were filed and investigated, of which 3,562 were cases involving harm to birds, an MPS official revealed at a special conference on Wednesday which marks the International Bird Loving Day.
Li Chunjie, deputy director of the environmental resources and food and drug crime investigation bureau of the MPS, told the media event on Wednesday. According to Li, birds are an important part of the ecosystem. Protecting birds and other wild animals, and promoting harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, is essentially protecting humanity itself. However, at present, in some regions, criminal activities involving the illegal hunting, capture, and trading of birds and other wild animals still occur from time to time, said the MPS official.
Cracking down on relevant wrongdoings, the ministry has adopted measures such as listing cases for supervision, specialized cluster operations, and regional joint campaigns to strengthen investigation responsibilities, ensuring that minor cases are handled quickly and efficiently, while major cases are thoroughly investigated and deeply cracked. And according to a statement the ministry provided to the Global Times on Wednesday, the ministry has listed 38 major and important cases for direct supervision, initiated cluster strikes on 15 cross-provincial cases, and promoted thorough investigation and deep excavation of leads during the special campaign.
When answering questions about a major case solved by Dalian public security organs involving the harm to precious and endangered wild animals, as well as the specific measures taken by Liaoning public security organs to protect wild birds, Liu Qitao, director-general of the environmental resources, food and drug crime investigation corps of the Liaoning provincial public security department, stated at the Wednesday conference that in the case solved in Dalian, public security organs rescued more than 12,000 nationally Class-I protected wild animals ā Yellow-breasted buntings ā in a single operation.
This is a typical case of Liaoning public security organs thoroughly advancing the special operation and severely cracking down on crimes harming birds in accordance with the law.
Looking ahead, Li said at the conference that in 2026, the ministry will consolidate and expand the achievements of the 2025 special operation, and organize public security organs nationwide to establish and improve a new proactive investigation and crackdown model.
He mentioned that efforts will adhere to combining online and offline operations, comprehensively utilize various resources, and focus on prominent issues such as illegal hunting with guns and drones, poisoning birds, online sales of state-protected wild animals and their products, and “laundering” the illegal origins of wild animals. Heavy blows will be dealt and severe punishment will be imposed in accordance with the law, the MPS official vowed Wednesday.
