Bribery in China still makes it possible to bypass all legal prohibitions on mining.
So you're saying all those underground miners, including those reported above are bribing officials then? I don't know, sounds like not what small miners would do. I find it difficult to believe it is cost-effective for residential miners, or whatever groups are doing the mining activity over there. Is there any data that shows the cost and how much bribe is required to make it possible to mine 'legally'? Wouldn't it make more sense to just go underground instead of trying to bribe people, and risk getting an extra sentence if others found it?