US warns China over undercover 'Fox Hunt' for corrupt Chinese officials
Latest squabble comes ahead of Xi Jinping's visit to Washington next month
Washington has warned Beijing about Chinese agents it says are operating covertly in the United States to repatriate corrupt mainland officials to China, reported on Monday.
Beijing did not have any official response to the claims, but state-run Xinhua published a commentary saying the US "made a regrettable move by ordering the Chinese law enforcement personnel in the country for the 'Fox Hunt' operation to return home immediately".
Citing US officials, the said the agents, working undercover for China's Ministry of Public Security without Washington's consent, had used "various strong-arm tactics" to pressure fugitives to go back home. Such tactics, including threats against relatives in China, had intensified in recent months.
The report came ahead of next month's state visit to the US by President Xi Jinping , during which the two countries will try to resolve tensions over such issues as trade, human rights and hacking.
The Xinhua commentary did not say when and which US department issued the order to the Chinese officers. But it did say the decision showed the US "lacks sincerity" in relation to "Fox Hunt", Beijing's worldwide effort to track down fugitives and root out corruption, which Washington had agreed to support.
Another Xinhua commentary asked if the US was on the side of corrupt fugitives or justice.
READ MORE: China ramps up global manhunt for corrupt officials with operation ‘Skynet’
US State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said the department did not comment on specific cases. But he said it was a criminal offence for an individual other than a diplomatic or consular officer to act in the US as an agent of a foreign power without notifying the attorney general.
Chinese observers said the reports showed Washington and Beijing disagreed over the repatriation tactics.
"China and the US are yet to sign a bilateral repatriation treaty, so for both sides it remains unclear what tactics can be used," said Professor Jie Dalei, from Peking University's international relations school.
Shi Yinhong, an international affairs professor at Renmin University, said "Fox Hunt" was not likely to be on the top of Xi's agenda when he visits the US next month.
"China was over-optimistic [about Washington's cooperation] … And, after all, both Beijing and Washington have so many other things to be mad at each other about."
Jie said the state leaders might touch on repatriation during their summit but the talks would probably be "under the table" given the sensitivity of the topic.
