Wanted: Obstacles still hinder joint effort

our counterparts,” the CCDI official said. “We are in advanced negotiations with the US to speed up the process for the fugitives’ return.”

In recent years, the US, Canada, Australia and Singapore have become popular destinations for corrupt Chinese officials who flee, due to lack of bilateral extradition treaties and differences in laws, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

Meanwhile, a large number of corrupt officials have transferred billions of yuan in illegal funds to their foreign accounts either through money laundering or underground banks, the ministry said.

Since April last year, when Interpol issued red notices to track down 100 major Chinese corrupt officials who fled, four have returned from the US to face trial, including 58-year-old Yang Jinjun, brother of Yang Xiuzhu, who is suspected of bribery and corruption.

He was forcefully repatriated to China from the US in September last year after spending 14 years on the run.

Although progress has been made, some obstacles still hinder the efforts between China and US in nabbing fugitives and confiscating their illegal funds.

Zhang Xiaoming, deputy director-general of the judicial assistance and foreign affairs department of the Ministry of Justice, said it is necessary to offer solid evidence to US judicial officials and to make sure Chinese law enforcement officials are well-versed in US and international law.