Bai Suocheng

Bai Suocheng or Bai Xuoqian (ပယ်ဆောက်ချိန်; born 1 April 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 Amyotha 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.

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. 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.

Bai was elected as an MP of the Amyotha Hluttaw representing Laukkai Constituency No. 2. 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.

Under his rule, the region became known for drugs and weapons trafficking. Bai was not very popular and survived an assassination attempt in March 2012. Bai's deputy, Liu Gaoxi, was elected in the same general election in 2010, and was known for his involvement with drugs trafficking. 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.

On 10 December 2023, China issued a warrant for him. He was later arrested by the Myanmar authority, which transferred him along with other nine people, including his son Bai Yingcang, to China on 30 January 2024.