Exclusive | Repatriation of two Chinese linked to graft tops the agenda ahead of Xi Jinping's US trip
Security chief asks for return of two Chinese allegedly linked to graft as US raises cybersecurity concerns during preparations for state visit
The repatriation of two Chinese allegedly linked to corruption investigations topped the agenda when China's security chief visited Washington to prepare for President Xi Jinping's state visit, sources revealed.
Meng Jianzhu , head of the Communist Party's Central Politics and Legal Affairs Committee, asked Washington to repatriate Ling Wancheng and Guo Wengui during talks with senior US officials who included Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, FBI Director James Comey and National Security Adviser Susan Rice, the sources said. The US side raised concerns over cybersecurity.
[There was a] frank and open exchange about cyber issues
The US remained non-committal on the repatriation, which would be difficult for Washington unless China could show proof of crimes, the sources said, adding that Beijing was building a case against the two men.
Meng, who visited Washington from September 9 to 12 as Xi's special envoy, was leading a delegation of security, judiciary and information technology officials.
Xi will begin his first state visit to the United States next Tuesday and is scheduled to talk with US President Barack Obama on Friday. In an address to a Sino-US business dialogue in Beijing yesterday, Xi said he expected the trip would deepen understanding between the two nations.
Beijing is stepping up efforts to trace corruption suspects who have fled overseas, but its efforts have been hindered by a lack of bilateral extradition treaties.
