China wins APEC backing to bring back its corrupt officials

In a major boost to its efforts to bring back scores of corrupt Chinese officials who fled abroad, China today secured the backing of 21-member APEC block for its high profile anti-graft campaign.
An anti-graft law enforcement network that promotes cooperation in crackdown on corruption, bribery, money laundering and illegal trade among the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation APEC economies has started operation, the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) disciplinary watchdog announced here today.
The CPC body said the anti-graft network consists of anti-corruption and law enforcement personnel from the APEC member economies.
It includes a chairman, liaison personnel and a secretariat, the CPC's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection state run Xinhua news agency reported.

The network will establish a regular contact mechanism to facilitate information sharing and build up trust among anti-corruption and law enforcement authorities in the region, it said.
The network will also build an anti-graft law enforcement cooperation mechanism to investigate corruption, bribery, money laundering and illegal trade crimes, it said.

It will also gather and share experiences in anti-graft areas through seminars and exchanges.
The network's Chinese liaison personnel come from judicial, procuratorate, public security, disciplinary and bank regulating authorities, the Xinhua report said.
According to official estimates about 18,000 corrupt officials fled China with about USD 123 billion between 1990 and 2008.

China has arrested or sacked thousands of officials in the current anti-graft campaign which netted top retired officials and Generals.
China already succeeded in bringing back several of them. The APEC backing could help as many have settled in countries like Australia and United States.