China's anti-corruption campaign has expanded as Beijing seeks out the assistance of western democratic leaders in the pursuit of suspected corrupt Chinese officials who have sought to escape by fleeing abroad.

Using its increasing political and economic influence, Communist Party leaders have already began pulling strings in New Zealand, a nation considered to be one of China's biggest trade partners, to extradite several Chinese individuals seeking refuge in the foreign country.

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This comes after some alleged economic criminals sought refuge overseas to escape Chinese President Xi Jinping's operation "Fox Hunt 2014," a group of dedicated officials from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) focused on probing officials' corruption cases.

According to some China-based British, Canadian, American, and Australian diplomats, Beijing has already been putting a lot of pressure on them.

However, the CCDI's vague legal status and its shadowy nature has become a hindrance for some western democratic countries when it comes to cooperating in tracking down the hundreds of officials fleeing President Xi's Fox Hunt.

Human rights groups have repeatedly alleged the CCDI, which does not report to any law enforcement or judicial agencies and directly answers to the Communist party, of inhumane treatment and torture of suspected criminals who have not been convicted yet.

In the past, several CCDI-accused criminals have been detained indefinitely for allegedly "violating Party discipline."

And now, it seeks to extend its reach beyond its territory, making some rights advocate nervous about the possible extension of its extralegal cruelty as well.

For example, former vice mayor Cao Jianliao's wife and mistress, along with at least one associate, are being probed while based in New Zealand.

Cao was taken into custody last year and still is under detainment for suspicion of corruption and philandering.

Currently, China has no extradition treaties with New Zealand, the United States, Canada, or Australia, all of which are popular escape routes for suspected economic criminals.

TagsFox Hunt, Overseas, US, Australia, new zealand, CCDI, CPC, corruption campaign