Chinese authorities launched "Fox Hunt 2015" for the purpose of bringing back suspects who have fled the country. The operation has since resulted in the capture and return of 214 people back to China, according to local sources.

Xinhua reported that the repatriated suspects face charges ranging from economic crimes to corruption. Fox Hunt is an annual government effort to repatriate officials who have embezzled state funds and escaped with the money overseas.  Other suspects include people who worked in state-run enterprises and who absconded with the company funds.

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Fox Hunt head Meng Qingfeng said that his team must continue to improve its skills and methods in tracking down suspects who are hiding overseas, according to China Daily.  He noted that the operation is a persistent effort on the part of the Chinese government to bring back the guilty to face trial.

A statement from the Chinese public security ministry said that 78 of the 214 suspects returned to China on their own volition.  The number of suspects in this year's Fox Hunt paled in comparison to last year when 680 people were returned to the country, according to Business Insider.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is a staunch supporter of the operation to bring back corrupt state officials to justice.  Xi has made it a part of his crusade to punish and remove corrupt government officials from office.  However, government efforts are encountering problems in repatriating the suspects and their ill-gotten wealth.

Many of the suspects choose to flee and hide in western countries like the U.S. and Canada since both have no extradition agreement with China.  Chinese authorities are reportedly seeking a dialogue with the United States to help them recover the stolen funds and deport the suspects back to China.

However, China is facing difficulties in convincing many of the western governments to agree to extradite suspects back to the country.  Many of them are voicing their apprehension about the justice system in China. Western human rights group claim that prisoners accused of corruption in China are routinely subjected to torture or death sentences.

TagsFox Hunt, fox hunt 2015, Chinese corrupt officials, chinese repatriation