On Feb.3, an economic fraud suspect was returned to China under police escort after 10 years on the run in Italy, marking the first extradition of its kind from a European country.

For many years, fraud suspects who have spirited away large sums of money have tried every means to flee to foreign countries to evade the legal consequences. Those western countries which have different legal systems seem to offer a haven for Chinese economic fugitives. Most fugitives are involved in corruption, and suffer from the illusion that if only they can escape to a foreign country, they will escape any punishment. This illusion has encouraged some suspects to do everything to escape from China.

China has been hunting fugitives since the 1980s, though it has gone through much trouble and many problems in the process. The country has a strong determination to hunt these people down. Chinese president Xi Jinping has pointed out that fugitives should be arrested no matter how long it takes and where they go. The fourth plenum of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Part of China reiterated the need to reinforce international cooperation to combat corruption and put more effort into hunting fugitives overseas.

For its part, China has expanded international judicial cooperation. It has adopted measures including ratifying around 40 extradition treaties and 50 criminal judicial assistance treaties with foreign countries. It is considering more such treaties.

China is becoming more open to foreign countries and has growing influence around the world. More and more countries would like to hitch a ride on China’s fast-moving “development train”, and are ready to direct rather more of their attention to China's concerns, including requests for judicial assistance. They no longer want to be seen as havens for criminal fugitives, and have begun to declare their support in the hunt for China's fugitives. In sum, foreign shelters for fraud suspects are melting away by the day. Fugitives can no longer expect to evade their legal responsibilities by taking refuge in a foreign country.

This article was edited and translated from 《贪官“避罪天堂”正在坍塌》, source: People's Daily Overseas Edition, Author:Hua Yiwen