Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin Photo: fmprc.gov.cn

The US in disregard of basic facts, slandered China's efforts to track down fugitives and recover illegal assets, which China is firmly opposed to, Chinese Foreign Ministry said following reports that the US charged seven Chinese nationals for attempting to repatriate a US resident to China. 

Wang Wenbin, spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry, said at Friday's media briefing that China's law enforcement agencies engage in law enforcement cooperation with other countries in strict accordance with international law, fully respect foreign laws and judicial sovereignty, and protect the legitimate rights and interests of criminal suspects. The relevant actions are beyond reproach. 

The US is the country where Chinese fugitives suspected of corruption and economic crimes are most concentrated, however, in recent years, the US has been passive in its response to China's requests for cooperation, such as tracking down fugitives, Wang said. 

He said it goes against the spirit of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the United Nations Convention against Corruption, as well as the US' public commitments on international occasions.

Wang's remarks came after a Reuter's report, which claimed the US unsealed criminal charges on Thursday against seven Chinese nationals accused of "waging a surveillance and harassment campaign" against a US resident and his family.

The report claimed it is the latest case by the US Justice Department targeting China's "Fox Hunt" operation. China launched "Fox Hunt" operation to apprehend corrupt suspects who moved abroad to evade punishment. From 2014 to May 2021, 9,165 such suspects were extradited from 120 foreign countries and regions, and over 20 billion yuan ($2.9 billion) of their illicit gains was retrieved.

Wang urged the US to correct its mistakes, actively cooperate with China in tracking down fugitives and recovering ill-gotten assets, earnestly fulfill its international obligations and commitments and stop being a haven for criminals. 

Global Times