China considers suing 'economic fugitives' in the U.S., official says

[JSCh]

China considers suing 'economic fugitives' in the U.S., official says
By Sui-Lee Wee
BEIJING Wed Nov 26, 2014 1:08am EST

(Reuters) - China is considering suing people suspected of committing economic crimes who have fled to the United States and elsewhere with billions of dollars, an unusual step in a widening anti-graft campaign, a senior official said on Wednesday.

The move, part of Chinese President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption drive, underscores the challenges China faces in seeking the return of so-called economic fugitives.

Xu Hong, director general of the Foreign Ministry's Department of Treaty and Law, said China tried to persuade the United States to sign an extradition treaty but Washington said it was "not ready".

"So in this case, we can only think of other alternative methods," Xu told a news conference. "One way is to repatriate the relevant suspects through the mechanism of illegal immigration, the other way is to prosecute them in the United States, so the suspects can be tried under U.S. law."

China considers suing 'economic fugitives' in the U.S., official says| Reuters

 

[Sanchez]

US would offer asylum to the criminals to protect their human rights...of course.

 

[BuddhaPalm]

Hunt them down like animals!

 

[bolo]

canada also protects these criminals too.

 

[TaiShang]

Hunt them down like animals!

If it comes to that, yes, just take them down one by one.

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

canada also protects these criminals too.

Zhou Yongkang's sister in law is still in Canada.

 

[StarCraft_ZT]

 

[bolo]

Zhou Yongkang's sister in law is still in Canada.

There was another guy surname Lai. He was in Canada for 8 years or so but i think he was extradicted a few years back, i think.

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

There was another guy surname Lai. He was in Canada for 8 years or so but i think he was extradicted a few years back, i think.

These crooks often use the Hong Kong surname in order to hide their true identity.

 

[Keel]

canada also protects these criminals too.

Canada doesnt on the face protect these fugitives but they are milking off the criminals of their loots through legal fees (for deportation) and administrative fees (to handle the case).

 

[mike2000]

Canada doesnt on the face protect these fugitives but they are milking off the criminals of their loots through legal fees (for deportation) and administrative fees (to handle the case).

Well though i do agree that our governments not just in Canada but in the U.S/west in general milk these corrupt officials/criminals from their ill gotten wealth, you cant blame us for that to be honest. Afterall, each and every country is looking first and foremost after their own well being/prosperity.These corrupt Chinese officials(usually members of CCP) and well connected political businessmen have been bringing with them billions of dollars into our country/economy for years now. So you expect us to say NO and prevent them from coming into our country with their billions of dollars? NOPE bro its never going to happen im afraid. Afterall, they do help boost our economy with all their billions of doallrs worth of corrupt money, it doesnt really matter to us how they got them, as far as they come here and invest it in our economy/country/banks etc then they are more than welcome. Though sometimes to please you people(make it sound like we are against them) we might deport one or two of them(after you have paid our government 'administrative and legal fees' of course.lol). So China, Russia and other developing countries shouldnt expect us in the west/U.S/Australia etc to help them track down/prevent these criminals/corrupt officilas from coming into our country/chasing them away. Nope wont happen, since we benefit alot from this thier money free of charge. Other foolish/clueless African leaders/officials as well stash their ill gotten wealth/cash in our banks here as well, and when they pass away/get into trouble, we just seize it and keep it/invest it in our economy and get wealthier. And as foolish as they are, later the next leaders/officials that replace them still do the same thing(i.e bring/'hide' their corrupt wealth/cash in our country again.). lol

So China ought to stop this itself, no country will help you do that,much less your rivals like U.S), you people have to set up an independent Judiaciary with wide ranging powers to prosecute and prevent corruption in the first place and prosecute anybody found guilty, irrespective of their power/position. It should be a continous process and this institution should be powerful enough for any officials(even the president) to be able to be submissive to it. Else your 'corruptio crackdown' will remain just a politcal witch hunt, and not really a credible fight against corruption. Active/serving Officials should also be barred from sending their whole familly/kids overseas. since this is precedent for them to run away/emmigrate as well after they have looted the country.lool But then again if this was to happen, im afraid even Xi Jinping will be barred from office/imprisoned(since his daughter is not studying/living in China in the first place, as she is in the U.S.lool. The fight against corruption is always a huge task in developing countries, but with rising living standards i think things will change/improve gradually. So we just have to wait and see.
Good luck to your corruption crack down thoug, even though i dont think that will change much without a complete review of the system/instituions to tackle this.

 

[TaiShang]

China seeking an end to 'safe havens' for officials- China.org.cn

China is calling on the United States and other Western countries to work with it to send back officials who have fled overseas with public money.

A government official told a news conference yesterday that some countries had "passive attitudes" about signing extradition treaties with China.

Xu Rong, director-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' treaty and law division said China had tried to persuade the United States to sign an extradition treaty but Washington had said it was "not ready."

Xu said China is considering suing people suspected of committing economic crimes who had fled to the US and elsewhere.

"One way is to repatriate the relevant suspects through the mechanism of illegal immigration, the other way is to prosecute them in the United States, so the suspects can be tried under US law," Xu said.

Washington-based Global Financial Integrity Group, which analyses illicit financial flows, estimates US$1.08 trillion left China illegally between 2002 and 2011. China said earlier this month it had captured 288 fugitives suspected of economic crimes in its "Operation Fox Hunt" campaign.

Xu said that some judges in Western countries, including the US and Canada, harbored "prejudice" about China's legal system and were reluctant to return officials and executives suspected of corruption.

Xu said the legal process for the repatriation of fugitives from the US, Canada and elsewhere was "cumbersome and lengthy."

The government would not make agreements with corrupt suspects for their return to China, Xu said, although they would face lighter punishments if they surrendered.

"China's judiciary and law enforcement agencies will not do business with these fugitives," Xu said. "We will work within the scope of the law."

He said that foreign judges who ruled against expatriating Chinese fugitives lacked a proper understanding of China's laws and the country's judicial process.

The US, Canada and Australia — the favorite destinations for Chinese officials accused of corruption — had yet to sign extradition treaties and China is appealing to these nations in particular to work with it to combat transnational corruption, Xu said.

China wanted countries deemed "safe havens" by corrupt fugitives to work with it on the problem.

Xu recognized "tremendous challenges and difficulties" in the drive to root out corruption, detain those who have fled abroad and recover illicit assets internationally.

He said it is necessary for countries reluctant to sign extradition treaties to strengthen political willingness and discard prejudice.

Meanwhile, China will increase communication with these countries to boost mutual trust, better handle legal barriers and explore pragmatic cooperation.

China began negotiations on mutual legal assistance and extradition treaties in the 1980s.

So far, China has concluded 39 extradition treaties and 52 criminal judicial assistance treaties with other countries, of which 29 extradition treaties and 46 criminal judicial assistance treaties are already in force.

"China has basically established the legal network for hunting fugitives fleeing abroad and recovering illicit assets, which covers major countries in each continent after nearly 30 years of unremitting efforts," Xu told reporters.

The foreign ministry will continue to press ahead with negotiations on bilateral judicial cooperation treaties, as well as expanding the related legal cooperation network, and resort to multilateral treaties such as the United Nations Convention against Corruption to pursue criminals and return their illicit funds, he said.

Of extradition treaties signed with Western countries including France, Spain, Australia, Italy and Portugal, the treaties with Spain and Portugal are already in effect.

China has approved a treaty with Australia, but the Australian Parliament has yet to ratify it.

"Both sides touched upon the issue during President Xi Jinping's visit to Australia this month and Australia said it would speed up the ratification process," Xu said.

He acknowledged that the lack of a treaty with the US remained a major obstacle that made extradition cooperation impossible.

China can only take other steps, such as repatriation or prosecution in the US, he said.

US laws state that only through a treaty can two countries cooperate on extradition. Even the UN Convention against Corruption cannot serve as the legal basis for extradition.

"But the US seems unprepared for such treaty," Xu said.

 

[DeVice]

US will never sign such agreement to China.

Because US still depend on Chinese dissidents and traitors for the interest of US to destabilize China.


May be it's time for China to invite and open the door to Snowden as well as many US dissidents too.

 

[TaiShang]

US will never sign such agreement to China.

Because US still depend on Chinese dissidents and traitors for the interest of US to destabilize China.


May be it's time for China to invite and open the door to Snowden as well as many US dissidents too.

I agree. Besides, those traitors bring hard cash to the US economy.

That's why, as I guess, after having exhausted all the formal options, China should also consider informal ways to repatriate the stolen wealth and annihilate the perpetrators.

 

[DeVice]

I agree. Besides, those traitors bring hard cash to the US economy.

That's why, as I guess, after having exhausted all the formal options, China should also consider informal ways to repatriate the stolen wealth and annihilate the perpetrators.

If you read the leaked report about planned pro-democracy protest in HK by US.

One of the article says to give an escape route and political asylum in US to the HK protester leaders if something goes wrong.

An agreement like above, will eliminate any of it.

People like Joshua Wong will never dare to create chaos in the first place. No safety and no heroic treatment anymore for them. They will became like a criminal dog for the rest of their life.