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Anti-corruption campaigns call for global cooperation
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WITH growing determination by China to catch criminals who have escaped abroad, other countries should also make coordinated efforts to bring these people to justice.
Corruption is a crime in all countries and regions of the world, making corrupt officials a common target everywhere. They may bring money to destinations, but they go against universal values and will undermine the reputation of the countries they are hiding in.
China launched its Fox Hunt 2014 operation in July, targeting corrupt officials and suspects in economic crimes who have fled the country.
The goal is to “block the last route of retreat” for corrupt officials after the country’s crackdown narrows the space for abuse of power.
So far, 288 suspects have been seized, including 21 at large for more than a decade, and 84 from developed countries such as the US, Canada, Japan and Belgium.
Chinese authorities recently announced a deadline of December 1 for escaped economic crimes suspects, who are mostly corrupt officials, to give themselves up in exchange for lenient sentences.
The country will continue to hunt for them and vows harsher punishment in the future. If corrupt officials can seek safe haven abroad, the anti-corruption war will not be successful.
In the meantime, the operation needs more international cooperation to address obstacles arising from different national situations in China and other countries.
Corrupt Chinese officials and other economic crime suspects often choose the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and other countries with friendly immigrant policies as their escape destinations.
At present, some difficulties or obstacles have hindered cross-border anti-corruption cooperation.
Varying political, social and legal systems among different countries may result in different views in specific cases. The litigation system and procedures are also different. In addition, many escape destinations have no extradition treaties with China.
Joint efforts
Law enforcers and legislators from China and other countries, while abiding laws from both countries, should make joint efforts to address the procedural issues and facilitate the process.
It is a positive sign that the legal system and rule of law have been greatly improved in China, with many countries strengthening cooperation and coordination with China on law enforcement.
In the past month, Chinese President Xi Jinping has on various occasions referred to hunting for economic crimes suspects overseas and recovering embezzled money.
When visiting Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and attending the G20 Summit in Brisbane earlier last week, Xi talked about the issue, hoping to strengthen law-enforcement cooperation with other countries.
China has also helped forge a cross-border law-enforcement network to strengthen transnational anti-corruption cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, which was adopted by APEC leaders earlier this month.
The progress of cross-border anti-corruption cooperation is irreversible. Places that were once safe havens in corrupt officials’ minds will soon turn to dead ends.
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