China seeks more intl help with hunt for fugitive officials

BEIJING - China's disciplinary watchdog opened a new "whistle blowing channel" on Tuesday, to help facilitate international support of its ongoing campaign to repatriate fugitive corrupt officials.

The Communist Party of China's (CPC) Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) released a bilingual statement saying that corrupt officials who fled abroad "must be brought to justice" as they ruined the Party's ethics and discipline codes; dishonored the Party and the government; undermined social justice; and caused public discontent.

People, at home or abroad, with relevant information are encouraged to pass on intelligence via a form hosted on the official Supervision Ministry/CCDI website.

The page, "Anti-corruption fugitive repatriation and asset recovery", explains that it will deal with reports on CPC members and public officials who have fled abroad, transferred the proceeds of corruption offshore as well as offer advice on fugitive repatriation and asset recovery.

Although those offering information may do so anonymously, the website stated that it welcomed credited reports, adding that those that included the real name of the informer would be treated as priority cases.

But it also warned that those who deliberately fabricated stories or hampered existing investigations would face legal action.

This initiative is part of "Fox Hunt 2014", a campaign targeting corrupt officials and suspects of economic crimes who have fled the country. As of Dec. 4, the campaign has successfully resulted in the detention of 428 fugitives.

Since President Xi Jinping assumed office, he has taken major steps to root out corruption as it not only affects the survival and future of the CPC but also the nation.

Xi was instrumental in the 22nd APEC Economic Leaders' Declaration, held in Beijing, China, -- signatories of which agreed to strengthen cooperation on fugitive repatriation, and asset recovery -- and on championing the topic at the G20 Summit in Brisbane, Australia.

CCDI vice secretary Huang Shuxian has said that China had to "make sure that there was no safe haven abroad for the corrupt and that they were brought back, even from the ends of the earth, home to face justice."