The list of 100 names includes 40 who fled to the US and 26 to Canada, most from Guangdong and Zhejiang provinces. Extradition will be difficult because China has few treaties with other countries.

Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection on Wednesday released a list of names of 100 fugitives sought under a new programme codenamed Sky Net launched earlier this month.

Most of those named are in the United States and Canada. About half of them are from the banking, insurance, securities, and media industries. One is a university professor.

Forty of the fugitives fled to the United States, 26 to Canada, and 20 to New Zealand. Others have gone to Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Australia, Xinhua reported.

At least 15 fugitives fled from the southern economic powerhouse of Guangdong province, whilst the south-eastern province Zhejiang came in second, with eight. Both provinces have special economic zones and special arrangements for foreign trade.

The list comes with name, photos, position, identity card, and passport. Some names have different identity cards and (fake) passports.

The list includes fugitives who fled from 1996 to 2014, with most going on the run between 2001 and 2002, and between 2011 and 2013.

In the last period, most have been accused of bribery, corruption and embezzlement after President Xi Jinping launched his anti-corruption campaign.

Although the list was sent to Interpol, experts believe it would be very difficult to extradite anyone because very few of the countries of refuge have an extradition treaty with China.

Where treaties do exist, legal procedures are very complicated and could take years.

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