'Operation Fox Hunt': China’s espionage programme to crack down on dissidents explained

China, which has alrey been widely criticised worldwide over its COVID-19 handling and Hong Kong security law, has been ripped yet again after details of its ‘Operation Fox Hunt’ came out in open. espion operation attracted more fury and acrimony after FBI director Christopher Wray warned that China poses “greatest long-term threat” to intellectual property and ecomic vitality of US. He elaborated that Chinese President Xi Jinping h launched a programme called 'Fox Hunt' to target political rivals, dissidents, and critics seeking to expose China's extensive human rights violations.

What is Operation Fox Hunt?

Just when whole world thought China’s suppression of freedom is limited to Hong Kong since with controversial law, shocking details about China’s campaign against Chinese dissenters critical of its authoritarian policy came to light. While China started Operation Fox Hunt claiming it to be ‘anti-corruption campaign,’ real aim turns out to be different. As per reports, China has been target Chinese dissidents living abro to stop ir activism, under garb of returning corrupt Chinese nationals to China to face criminal charges. 

Launched in June 2014 by Chinese president Xi Jinping, operation was claimed to be an attempt to get back fugitives accused of financial crimes. However, operation came under scrutiny after FBI in US raised a public alarm about it’s real motive.

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Return to China or commit suicide

“China describes Fox Hunt as some kind of international anti-corruption campaign. It is t," FBI Director Christopher Wray warned. "Inste," he told Hudson Institute in Washington DC, "Fox Hunt is a sweeping bid by [President] Xi to target Chinese nationals who he sees as threats and who live outside of China across world."

Wary said hundreds of se victims that China targets live in United States, ding that many of m are American citizens or green cardholders. He claimed that Chinese government wants to force m to return to China. He furr called China’s tactics to accomplish aim “shocking”.

"When it couldn't locate one Fox Hunt target, Chinese government sent an emissary to visit target's family here in United States. mess y said to pass on? target h two options: return to China promptly, or commit suicide," said Wray on July 7.

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Fox Hunt targets and shocking tactics

FBI chief warned that Fox Hunt targets include Chinese dissidents, communist regime's political rivals and critics seeking to expose China’s extensive human rights violations. Chinese nts, in order to get se dissidents back, often issue threats against ir family members still living on mainland, said Wary. 

Operation Fox Hunt, within first six months of its launch, helped repatriate around 700 suspects living outside country. Its biggest coup was in 2015 with extrition of a woman from Italy as it was first time a European country agreed to hand over someone to China over financial crime accusations. 

China reportedly conducted activities across 56 countries within first year of launch of Operation Fox Hunt. While espion has become a cause of concern and gained international attention in past few days, it is t first time that details have been out. Obama ministration, in August 2015, h also warned Beijing about presence of Chinese government nts operating undercover across US to pursue prominent expatriates. Many of m reportedly wanted in China ostensibly on accusations of corruption.

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