Fewer corruption suspects flee China as Beijing makes it harder with tighter controls

The number of corruption suspects fleeing China in the last four years has fallen dramatically as the government steps up controls on things like passport issuance for officials, the ruling Communist Party’s anti-graft watchdog said on Tuesday.

China has pursued an overseas search dubbed Operation Fox Hunt for corrupt officials and business executives who have fled abroad with their assets, part of President Xi Jinping’s war on deep-seated corruption.

In a lengthy statement offering rare details of the behind the scenes action taken, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said prevention was just as important as efforts to get back those already abroad.

In 2014, 101 officials fled abroad, in 2015 the number fell to 31, while last year only 19 escaped, it said.

It attributed the fall to strengthened measures, especially against those whose entire families are already overseas, like tighter passport controls and restrictions on moving money offshore.