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Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign
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China's promise not to execute criminal mastermind Lai Changxing was instrumental in having him extradited from Canada.

China must strike deal with West so criminals have no place to hide

The long arm of mainland law usually gets its man, except when it reaches overseas for corrupt officials who have gone into hiding with ill-gotten gains. It is not through want of trying.

The long arm of mainland law usually gets its man, except when it reaches overseas for corrupt officials who have gone into hiding with ill-gotten gains. It is not through want of trying. But even China's rising global influence can be of no avail in getting them back, though few countries would relish being seen as a haven for fugitives. Ironically, in many cases, they owe their freedom to Western democratic values.

In the last two years, hundreds of officials and their associates have fled President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign, joining many thousands already overseas. This prompted the Communist Party's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection to launch operation "Fox Hunt 2014" to investigate suspects and fugitives. Officials have enlisted Interpol to help find them, and sought the cooperation of Western governments through Beijing-based diplomats. Beijing says 88 fugitives have either been extradited or returned on their own from over 40 countries, despite a lack of extradition treaties and law enforcement agreements.

The reluctance of some countries to cooperate is understandable, given pressure from human-rights groups that claim the CCDI is guilty of abuses. But so is Beijing's frustration, especially over the ease with which dishonest officials obtain US investor visas and, ultimately, green cards.

Some places also have concerns that China applies the death penalty. But China should have laid them to rest with a promise not to execute criminal mastermind Lai Changxing which was instrumental in having him extradited from Canada.

China has extradition treaties with nearly 40 countries, but not with some favoured Western destinations of corrupt officials. These people are not victims of political persecution, but are accused of serious crimes. It is not in the interests of host countries to shelter them. There should be more cooperation between Chinese authorities and foreign jurisdictions to bring them to justice, bilaterally and under the framework of the UN Convention Against Corruption.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Deny criminals a place to hide
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