'Fox Hunt' dashes dreams of corrupt officials

The six-month "Fox Hunt" campaign, tracking down big time crooks who fled abroad, shows China is now playing hardball with corrupt officials.

A total of 680 fugitives suspected of economic crimes have been repatriated as a result of the transnational operation. Of those, 117 had been at large for over a decade. One had been on the run for 22 years.

The hunt has found runaways in 69 countries and regions. Chinese police worked with colleagues in over 90 countries and regions, and more than 70 teams were sent overseas.

Their efforts dashed the empty dreams of many corrupt officials that fleeing China was equivalent to escaping the long arm of Chinese law. According to official data, about 1,000 corrupt officials cut and run each year between 2007 and 2012, and this does not include fugitives suspected of other economic crimes.

Those who are still lurking overseas might heave a sigh of relief at the news that the operation is now officially over, but the end of "Fox Hunt" does not mean an end to hunting. As long as the bad guys remain at large, the hunt goes on.

The campaign itself was not just an attempt to drag these enemies of the people back to justice, but was a clear warning to those corrupt officials hatching plans to flee China. To both groups, Chinese government has sent a clear message: you can run, but you can't hide forever.

Part of the backstory to ensnaring these fugitives is deeper international cooperation. An Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) corruption law enforcement network was established in November, with a strong lead from China, and seeks to put an end to safe havens for corrupt officials.

Also in November, antigraft was the third of four proposals put forward by President Xi Jinping at the G20 Summit in Brisbane, Australia.

In a recent case of cooperation between the US and China, Wang Guoqiang, former Party chief of Fengcheng City in northeast China's Liaoning Province, returned to China and to turn himself in late in December. Wang, who fled China in 2012, faces severe disciplinary and legal sanctions.

It is time for more fugitives to follow Wang home.