China back in hunt for fugitive corrupt officials

BEIJING -- China has launched its latest campaign to capture corrupt officials who have fled overseas and recover their dirty assets.

The Communist Party of China's (CPC) Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said in a statement on its website on Thursday that it will coordinate "Sky Net 2016" along with the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP), People's Bank of China (PBOC), Organizational Department of the CPC Central Committee, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The MPS will continue to spearhead the "Fox Hunt" campaign that targets suspects in economic crimes, while the SPP will take charge of those implicated in duty-related crimes.

From April to December last year, "Fox Hunt 2015" saw China seize 857 fugitives hiding overseas, scattered across 66 countries and regions, according to MPS figures.

The PBOC, China's central bank, will work with the MPS to police money laundering via offshore companies and underground banks.

Several of these agencies will also target overseas trips made with illegal documents.

Tracking down fugitives and recovering stolen assets is a tough task that calls for more resolute action and a multi-pronged approach, said Huang Shuxian, deputy head of the CCDI.