'Trace the Money, Seize the Fugitives': China's Other Anticorruption Battle. Issue 138 (2nd November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhu, Jiangnan; Wen, Bo
• Is Part Of: Journal of contemporary China. Volume 31:Issue 138(2022)
• Page Start: 993
• Page End: 1011
• Publication Date: 2022-11-02
• Subjects: China -- Periodicals; China -- Politics and government -- 1976- -- Periodicals; Chine -- Périodiques; Chine -- Politique et gouvernement -- 1976- -- Périodiques; 306.0951
• DOI: 10.1080/10670564.2022.2031006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1067-0564

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Corrupt officials fleeing abroad with ill-gotten proceeds constitute a special challenge for the Chinese government. International cooperation to seize these fugitives often encounters roadblocks due to countries' legal-political differences. By observing China's burgeoning extraterritorial anti-corruption regime, this article proposes that an anti-money laundering (AML) mindset is being embraced to 'seize the fugitives' by 'tracing the money'. This approach has three advantages: 1) de-complication by standardizing states' practices and bypassing complexities inherent in orthodox means, 2) de-politicization by circumventing sensitive political concerns through pursuing fugitives and corrupt proceeds separately, and 3) leveling the playing field by rebalancing power between requested and requesting states. In-depth case studies combined with elite interviews reveal that this AML-oriented tactic has facilitated China's capture of fugitives on foreign soils.