The United States has warned China to stop sending secret agents to America to hunt and coerce renowned expatriates wanted in Beijing to return home at once. 

According to the New York Times, the warning was made anonymously by high-ranking officials of the Obama Administration. The officials say China has dispatched several secret agents covertly to America as part of President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign.

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The move, which is thought to be part of Operation Fox Hunt, is aimed at locating and repatriating Chinese fugitives.  

U.S. officials say the undercover Chinese officials - from the Ministry of Public Security - come to America under false identities, as either tourists or business people.

Washington is especially alarmed that these secret agents are violating government laws by using strong-arm intimidation tactics to pressure expatriate to return to China. Agents have allegedly threatened migrants to return home or their relatives in China will be in harm's way.

According to the Chinese Ministry of Public Security, in 2014 more than 930 corruption suspects returned home after fleeing the country. This year more than 70 suspects have returned to China voluntarily. However, it unclear how many of these returnees came from America.

Although Beijing and Washington have signed partnerships in several areas including secret government intelligence practices, America and China do not have an extradition treaty. Therefore, Chinese agents cannot make arrests of force migrants in America to return home without authorization from the U.S. Justice Department.

Marc Raimondi, Justice Department spokesman said "The United States is not safe haven for fugitives from any nation." He has revealed that the U.S. is willing to help China locate these fugitives if Beijing provides the necessary evidence to the Department.

However, "China has not provided the evidence we have requested," he stressed.

Reports indicate that the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security have been aware of the activities of Chinese secret agents for some time now. Officials reportedly interviewed several expatriates, but have refused to release further information regarding the issue.

Chinese authorities have not commented on these accusations. However, Liu Dong, a director of Operation Fox Hunt, said all Chinese agents are supposed to adhere to local laws while abroad. He said they must work at all times with local law enforcement officials.

President Barrack Obama is expected to address this and other concerns including the devaluation of the Yuan when President Xi Jinping visits Washington in September.

TagsChinese Fugitives in US, Operation Fox HUnt, China Most Wanted Fugitives, China Fugitives List