'I was so depressed,' ex-fugitive concedes

Hunt for corrupt officials abroad is expected to be hot two sessions topic

China will stage its largest annual political and legislative events - the "two sessions" - starting on March 3. China Daily takes a close look at a series of likely hot topics and catchphrases during the sessions.

Today's catchphrase - Skynet operation-refers to the major special action involving Chinese judicial authorities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the People's Bank of China to target fugitives, especially corrupt officials still at large abroad, and to confiscate their ill-gotten proceeds. Under the operation, launched in April last year, Chinese law enforcement officers sought to nab a large number of fugitives, confiscate their illegal passports and other such documents, and smash underground banks. During the eight-month-long operation, they also seized a large amount of illegal assets and persuaded many suspects to return to confess to their crimes. The Skynet operation combines the actions of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Ministry of Public Security, the Supreme People's Procuratorate and the People's Bank of China. It is intended to strengthen law enforcement cooperation with the countries involved, including the United States, Canada and Australia, and to boost measures to prevent fugitives from fleeing abroad to avoid prosecution and punishment.