(Clearwisdom.net)
As of the end of July 2002, more than 9000 high ranking Party officials have been found to be missing. It has been verified that more than 6,500 of them have fled overseas. According to the information provided, it is known that an additional 200-plus high ranking officials are preparing to escape.
The Latest Statistical Figures of High Ranking Officials Absconding with Large Amounts of Money
The October publication of Zhengming magazine reported that on September 12th, the Communist Party Central Discipline Committee and the Central Financial Working Committee internally announced: In 2001, the illegitimate financial outflow amounted to 453 billion Yuan, equaling 54 billion US dollars. According to the incomplete statistical figures at the end of June 2002, this year's outflow has reached 255 billion Yuan, equaling 30.5 billion US dollars.
In early September, the Central Discipline Inspection Committee, the Central Organization Department, and the Public Security Department discovered that at the end of July 2002, the number of Party political officials that have disappeared, run away and escaped stands at 9440. It has been confirmed that 6500 of them have fled to foreign countries. The Public Security Department has sent out 6275 arrest warrants.
High Ranking Officials Turn In More Than 7,500 Foreign Passports
In early May, the Central Discipline Inspection Committee and the Central Organization Department ordered high ranking officials to turn in foreign passports and foreign residence permits that they had acquired through unusual channels. By September, more than 7500 foreign passports had been handed in. These passports were from more than 32 countries, the majority from America, Canada, Australia, France, Italy and Spain. Those passport holders included current vice-governor-level officials, former members of the Central Committee, retired governors and ministers, and military vice-commanders.
The Final Order from the Central Discipline Inspection Committee and the Central Organization Department
According to internal information, the Central Discipline Inspection Committee and the Central Organization Department have confirmed that between 15,000 to 20,000 Party members have acquired foreign passports or foreign residence permits through unusual channels. However, only a minority have handed in those passports and permits.
This order also requires officials to report any real estate property, money and bonds held under false names, by spouses, and by direct relatives in China. Also, it requires officials to report the details of individuals, spouses and direct relatives that one knows hold foreign passports, foreign residence permits or foreign citizenships.
Some High Ranking Officials Hold 2 to 15 Passports
Through this check, it was found that among the high ranking officials at and above the local department chief level, more than 200 people were preparing to escape, apparently due to their financial problems. They all held 2 to 15 foreign passports, and the group was comprised of 3 minister level officials, 14 to 15 vice-minister level officials, 4 provincial level officials, 17 vice-provincial level officials, and more than 160 local department chiefs.
Why Do High Ranking Officials Want to Escape?
Wei Jianxing, a Politburo member, the Central Secretariat secretary and the Central Discipline Inspection Committee secretary said in one of his reports that these people are "dregs" that have "degenerated", and that they have been waiting for a chance to escape and spend the rest of their lives in western countries. Some of them fear that they would receive justice should the Party collapse. Others fear that once the political situation in China changes, it will be too difficult for them to run away. Still others fear that new leaders might investigate and deal severely with them.