US Warns China over Use of Covert Agents

Local Editor

According to a "New York Times" report, the Obama administration has warned China over its use of agents on US soil to put pressure on Chinese expatriates.

Beijing is running a global campaign to repatriate Chinese fugitives and recover illicit funds, the newspaper said citing unnamed US officials.

Furthermore, the US state department has now resorted to warning Chinese officials about the activities.

The alleged program - reportedly codenamed Operation Fox Hunt by Beijing - is separate from China's routine spying activities against the US.

The "New York Times" said the undercover agents were working under the direction of China's Ministry of Public Security and probably entering the country on tourism or trade visas.

The officials claim that the Chinese agents, described as mostly young, highly skilled officers, use various strong-arm tactics to get fugitives to return. The harassment, which has included threats against family members in China, has intensified recently, they said.

The officials, however, refused to provide specific evidence of the activities by the Chinese agents.

Chinese news media previously reported that the government has sent scores of security agents abroad to "persuade" their targets to return home.

More than 930 suspects around the world had been repatriated to China since last year under the program, the newspaper said, citing the Ministry of Public Security.

The fugitives sought under Operation Fox Hunt are believed to be prominent expatriates, sought for economic corruption or what China considers political crimes.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will make a state visit to the US next month; the warning to Beijing is expected to complicate the visit.

China and the United States are at loggerheads over other issues, including cyber security and China's devaluation of its currency.

China strongly objects to what it considers US meddling, accusing the US of destabilizing the Asia Pacific region by strengthening its military alliances and sending more ships, aircraft, and troops to the region.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team