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Yakuza is Japanese "mafia". Chinese mafia is called Triads.

Here is a good brief history and methods of Chinese Triads:
About the Chinese Mafia
A Look at Chinese Triads

Chinese Triad societies originated well before the birth of Christ, originally as rebel factions intent on overthrowing the current government. Based on the concept of sworn brotherhood, Triads evolved into criminal organizations that form the basis of the Chinese underworld.

The original Triad, whose name translates to "Red Eyebrows," formed in an attempt to overthrow the Chinese Han dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD). By the 17th century, Triads had expanded to form "societies." One of the more powerful was formed by five monks who wanted to over throw the Chi'ing Dynasty and restore the Ming. By the 18th and 19th centuries, the Triads were less concerned with political activism and more concerned with robbery, extortion and blackmail. By the first half of the 20th century, the Triads had established strongholds in Hong Kong, and had fully evolved into criminal organizations. A vast political crackdown in 1956 vastly limited Triad activities. In a few years, they had regrouped and formed throughout Hong Kong and other parts of China. Current estimates say that 5-10 percent of all "detected" criminal activity in Hong Kong is Triad-related.

Like Russia, the onset of free enterprise has given the Triads increased opportunity for control in Hong Kong and other areas of China. Unlike the Russian mafia or the various mafias in America, Chinese Triads rely less on brute force and more on intimidation tactics, bribery, and the select placement of "their" government and banking officials.

Their main criminal activities are extortion, drug trafficking, loan-sharking, credit card fraud and video piracy. In Hong Kong, Triads control prostitution, gambling and many private and public sector businesses. More reinforcement of anti-crime laws has led many Hong Kong triads to turn their attention to southern China. While some Westerners fear the spread of Chinese Triads to North America, most officials find this unlikely as Triads tend to operate in areas where smuggling is impeded by as few international customs as possible. The greatest source of income for Triads tend to be in southern China and Hong Kong. Many officials do point out that Triads (as well as the Russian, Japanese and Italian mafias) have key connections working for them all over the world.

Her's an interesting bit from Wikipedia :
Tongs Tongs are similar to triads except that they originated among the early immigrant Chinatown communities rather than an extension of a modern triad in China. The first tongs formed in the second half of the 19th century among the more marginalized members of early immigrant Chinese American communities for mutual support and protection from white racists. These first tongs modeled themselves upon triads. However, unlike the triads, the tongs formed without clear political motives and soon found themselves involved in criminal activities, including extortion, gambling, human trafficking, murder, and prostitution.

Many traditional tongs in USA Chinatowns have been replaced by recent immigrants from China, especially from Fuqing City, Fujian Province.
That echoes the article. So we are likely now seeing "new" Tongs getting involved in politics and "political prostitution and protection" racket, just like all mafias before them evolved...