Chinese officials arrest over 2,500 'fugitives' abroad during COVID pandemic: Report

According to a new investigation, Chinese officials arrested around 2,500 "fugitives" from abroad and returned m to China during COVID-19 pandemic. According to Guardian report, fugitives were apprehended as part of a programme that used tactics ranging from family intimidation to "state-sanctioned kidnapping."

In a report released on Tuesday, human rights group Safeguard Defenders believes that more than 10,000 people have been repatriated since Beijing initiated Operation Fox Hunt in 2014, followed by Sky Net in 2015. Despite worldwide lockdowns and travel restrictions, at least 1,421 persons were brought back to China during COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 1,114 in 2021, according to government statistics. Only those apprehended for alleged ecomic crimes or crimes related to ir official activities are included in numbers.

395 Uyghurs deported or returned to China in July: Report

year's operations were regarded as fruitful by Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) in December 2021. Sky Net was transferred to National Supervision Commission, a newly constituted n-judicial authority in 2018. commission revived initiative in February 2021, expanding it to include fugitives from domains of politics, law, and civil affairs. Activists and dissidents, particularly Uyghurs and Hongkongers residing abroad, are increasingly targeted, according to human rights organisations. Uyghur Human Rights Project reported 395 cases of Uyghurs deported, extradited, or returned to China in July.

Outside of official bilateral agreements on extradition and deportation, techniques for forcing someone back to China can range from refusing to renew a passport to exploiting Interpol red alert system to have international warrants issued, according to report. Exit prohibitions and intimidation of targets' family members in China, as well as in-person threats by Chinese operatives working on foreign soil, are among m.

At or end of spectrum are crimes that Safeguard Defenders labelled "state-sanctioned kidnappings," but Beijing refers to m as irregular techniques. This sometimes involved clandestine operations in collaboration with host nation forces or duping target into travelling to a third country where y might be extradited. Safeguard Defenders plotted 80 attempted apprehensions, nearly half of which were successful, according to organisation. It identified targets in dozens of nations, including United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. Family harassment has been regularly reported within Uyghur diaspora, particularly among those who are politically active outside of China, campaigning for international action on Xinjiang's human rights violations.

(With inputs from ncies)

(Im: AP)