Operation Fox Hunt: China tracks ‘fugitives’ with RMB3 billion in offshore assets

BEIJING - Over the past year, China’s Ministry of Public Security has carried out an extensive campaign known as “Operation Fox Hunt”, tracking down and returning more than 500 fugitives with over RMB 3 billion in offshore assets. Until earlier this week, however, the campaign was more or less shrouded in secrecy.

In an article posted on its website, the party’s internal graft watchdog, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, said operations were led by the Fugitive Repatriation and Asset Recovery Office, comprising officials from the CCDI, the judiciary and prosecutors, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Public Security, State Security and Justice, and the People’s Bank of China.

The article mentioned the biggest problem in tracking down fugitives was in countries lacking extradition treaties with China, such as the US, Canada and Australia.

It read: “In some cases China would send agents to persuade fugitives to end their exile, but in others it would provide evidence of criminal activity to host countries to repatriate them for illegal immigration directly or via a third country…illicit assets were repatriated through various means, from bilateral law enforcement co-operation deals, to local civil litigation, and criminal asset seizure laws abroad or in China.”

It has also been revealed that CCDI chief, Wang Qishan, will be visiting the US to “seek Washington’s help on fugitives”.  www.webershandwick.cn (ATI).