Bai Suocheng

In this Chinese name, the family name is Bai.

Bai Suocheng or Bai Xuoqian (Chinese: 白所成; pinyin: Bái Suǒchéng; Burmese: ပယ်ဆောက်ချိန်; born 14 May 1950) is a Kokang politician from Shan State, Myanmar. He was a former deputy commander of the Myanmar Nationalities Democratic Alliance Army who later became the MP of the Shan State Hluttaw representing Laukkai and first leader of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone. In 2024 he was extradited to China for running online and telephone scam centres.^[3]

Bai Suocheng
白所成
Image of Bai taken from a 2023 wanted poster
Member of the Shan State Hluttaw
In office 31 January 2011 – 29 January 2016
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	Bai Yingneng
Constituency	Laukkai Constituency No.2
Head of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone
In office 30 March 2011 – 5 April 2016
Preceded by	position created
Succeeded by	Zhao Dechen[1]
Chairman of the Shan State Special region 1 Interim Management Committee
In office 25 August 2009 – 30 March 2011
Deputy	Zhang Dewen, Li Zhongxiang, Yang Zhongwei (until 22 Nov 2009), Liu Gaoxi, Wei Chaoren (since 22 Nov 2009)
Preceded by	Pheung Kya-shin (chairman of the region)
Succeeded by	as the head of KSZ
Deputy Commander of the MNDAA
In office 1 January 1996 – 25 August 2009 Serving with Wang Guozheng, Jiang Zhongming (until 2000), Zhang Dewen, Peng Deren (since 1997), Wei Chaoren (since 2000)
Commander	Pheung Kya-fu
In office February 1993 – 1 January 1996 Serving with Ai En, Wang Guozheng, Jiang Zhongming
Commander	Yang Mao-liang
Personal details
Born	(1950-05-14) 14 May 1950 (age 74)[2] Lyaae Shan Htaan Village, Hon Aik, Kokang, Burma[2]
Political party	USDP
Other political affiliations	Communist (1967–1989) MNTJP (1989–2009)
Children	2 sons and 4 daughters (including Bai Yingneng (Khin Maung Lwin), Bai Yingcang (Khin Maung Win), Bai Yingxiang, Bai Yinglan)
Military service
Allegiance	People's Army (1967–1989) MNDAA (1989–2009)
Years of service	1967–2009

Career

Bai Suocheng was a deputy commander of the Myanmar Nationalities Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) who assisted Pheung Kya-shin in ousting Yang Mao-liang from the leadership in 1992. He later tried to replace Pheung himself with the support of Myanmar's government.^[4][5] Bai allied himself with the Tatmadaw (Myanmar Armed Forces) to oust Pheung during the three-day Kokang incident in 2009. Remnants of the MNDAA were reorganized into Border Guard Force #1006 under Bai's supervision afterwards.^[6]

Bai was elected as an MP of the Shan State Hluttaw representing Laukkai Constituency No. 2.^[7] during the 2010 general election. Bai's agreement led to the formation of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone on 20 August 2010 where Bai would become its the first head of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone.^[8][9]

Under his rule, the region became known for drugs and weapons trafficking.^[8] Bai was not very popular and survived an assassination attempt in March 2012.^[10] Bai's deputy, Liu Gaoxi, was elected in the same general election in 2010, and was known for his involvement with drugs trafficking.^[11] Bai Suocheng, his children and his associates dominated a multi-billion-dollar hotel and casino business empire, including online gambling operations. These businesses extend to Karen State and internationally to Sihanoukville, Cambodia. Chinese court records have heard multiple cases involving the Bai and Liu family's companies relating to gambling, smuggling and kidnapping from Kokang hotels and casinos.^[12]

On 10 December 2023, China issued a warrant for him.^[13][14][15] He was later arrested by Burmese authorities, which transferred him along with other nine people, including his son Bai Yingcang, to China on 30 January 2024.^[16][17]

See also

• Lo Hsing Han