MIDLAND, Texas (AP) — Retired Chinese official Li Chuanliang was recuperating from cancer on a Korean resort island when he received an urgent call. A friend warned him not to return to China, declaring him a fugitive.
After fleeing to the U.S. on a tourist visa to escape Chinese authorities, Li found himself hunted. He was shocked to discover that the Chinese government was tracking his communications and monitoring his every move using advanced surveillance technology.
More than 40 of his friends and family members, including his pregnant daughter, were identified and detained, with cab drivers tracked through facial recognition software. The chilling reality is starkly illustrated in Li's accounts: “They track you 24 hours a day. All your electronics, your phone… they’ll use every method to find you,” he said.
The use of sophisticated surveillance technology, much of it originally developed in the U.S., allows China to tighten its grip on power both domestically and internationally. Within China, these systems have helped identify nearly 900,000 officials since 2012. Critics argue that Beijing's purported anti-corruption campaigns often serve to suppress dissent and instill fear among its population.
The ongoing operations Fox Hunt and Sky Net exemplify China's global pursuit of alleged fugitives, with over 14,000 individuals reportedly coerced into returning from various countries. Li emphasized that this demonstrates the oppressive reach the Chinese state has even beyond its borders.
Li's experience is complicated by the fact that his accusations of corruption total $435 million, charges he firmly denies, arguing they stem from his vocal criticism of the Chinese government. His story serves as a rare insight into the aggressive measures employed by the Chinese government against those who speak out against it.
Though his future remains uncertain in the U.S., where asylum applications have been paused, Li's determination to expose the corrupt systems that have ensnared him continues unabated.
