China cracks down on illegal social organizations, tightens oversight

China's Ministry of Civil Affairs announced Monday it has intensified efforts to crack down on illegal social organizations, aiming to protect public interests and prevent fraud.

In the first nine months of the year, the ministry disbanded 152 illegal social organizations, persuaded 383 others to voluntarily close, and required 124 organizations to obtain official registration.

Some of the banned groups had falsely claimed "state-level" status to deceive the public, engaging in activities ranging from business evaluations to educational aid events, according to the ministry.

Authorities say they plan to further strengthen regulations for social organizations and improve monitoring capabilities through smart technology. The ministry reiterated its "zero tolerance" approach toward illegal organizations and vowed to continue publicly naming violators to safeguard the public.