The problem in China is that the expectation to get caught for any crime at all is very low. The population is huge and it's very easy to get away with tax evasion, financial frauds, etc. Since the expectation to get caught is low, they make up with very harsh sentences.
I think its more than just a population issue. The legal system is not quite as developed as it could be.
For example, the courts don't have a working appeals process. People can appeal, but they have to go to Beijing to plead their case. And the central government punishes the provinces when too many people from their province do this.
So what do the provinces do? Why, they kidnap people in Beijing, of course.
They seem to keep track of people when they try to get justice, but not who's ripping them off.
If they are smart, those in charge would make reforming this situation a top priority. They have a lot of internal dissent. Improving the legal system would help.
