China is requesting the repatriation of a Chinese businessman from the U.S. Ling Wancheng is a sibling of Ling Jihua - a former party official sacked in July for corruption, who is currently in hiding.

The New York Times reported that President Obama is unwilling to give up Ling Wancheng to Beijing. The fugitive businessman is said to be using several names in the US, including Wang Cheng and Jason Wang.

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China is believed to be anxious to get Ling back to the country due to his intricate knowledge of the inner workings of the Chinese government and the Communist Party. There are concerns that the U.S. may offer him sanctuary in exchange for information.

Chinese Leader Xi Jinping is due to arrive in America and experts say a number of issues - including Ling's deportation - could affect the mood of the Chinese visit.

The U.S. is particularly concerned about the recent data breach in the Office of Personnel Management by suspected Chinese hackers. China's ongoing land building project in the South China Sea has also upset Washington.

The U.S. has acknowledged that Ling is in the country and owns a sprawling estate in Sierra Nevada which he reportedly purchased for more than $2 million. U.S. authorities, however, would not confirm where the Chinese fugitive is staying.

The U.S. Homeland Security would also not comment if Ling is seeking political asylum. Attempts to contact him through his listed phone numbers have been unsuccessful.

When Chinese authorities charged Ling Jihua with corruption, they made it clear that a number of his family members were involved in his crimes. Being a sibling, Ling Wancheng would have also been under the cross hairs of the government prosecutors.

Ling has amassed a fortune through his investment firm. He reportedly owns several real estate properties in the U.S. which were acquired through his company.

Ling Wancheng is just one of the many Chinese fugitives that Beijing wants repatriated from abroad. Chinese authorities claim that many fugitives have fled to the U.S. to escape criminal charges. The U.S. justice department has expressed willingness to deport some of these fugitives to China if evidence of their crimes is presented.

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