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== Millionaires fleeing China ==

== Millionaires fleeing China ==

As China's economy has expanded since the 1980s, the scale of [[corruption]] has grown dramatically. A 2011 report released by China's central bank estimated that from the mid-1990s to 2008, corrupt officials who fled overseas took with them $120 billion in stolen funds.  A 2012 [[Washington, DC]]-based think tank estimated that total illicit financial flows out of China in the decade from 2001 through 2010 amounted to $2.74 trillion, over 20 times as much as the official CCP account in a closely parallel timeframe.<ref>The 2012 Bo Xilai Affair highlighted the degree to which the families of top Party officials were able to parlay access to political power into vast personal wealth.   

As China's economy has expanded since the 1980s, the scale of [[corruption]] has grown dramatically. A 2011 report released by China's central bank estimated that from the mid-1990s to 2008, corrupt officials who fled overseas took with them $120 billion in stolen funds.  A 2012 [[Washington, DC]]-based think tank estimated that total illicit financial flows out of China in the decade from 2001 through 2010 amounted to $2.74 trillion, over 20 times as much as the official CCP account in a closely parallel timeframe.<ref>The 2012 Bo Xilai Affair highlighted the degree to which the families of top Party officials were able to parlay access to political power into vast personal wealth.   

Bo’s wife was convicted of [[murder]] of a [[British]] businessman in August 2012.  Bo’s vice mayor was convicted of “bending the [[law]] for selfish ends, defection, abuse of power and [[bribe]]-taking” in September 2012.  Days later, the Party [[Politburo]] expelled Bo from the Party’s ranks and announced that it was transferring his case to state judicial authorities. The Party investigation concluded that Bo “bore major responsibility” in the cases of his vice-mayor’s actions and his wife’s involvement in the murder, and alleged that he “took advantage of his office to seek [[profit]]s for others and received huge bribes personally and through his family.”  [[Social media]] brought the scandal to light, creating problems for existing leadership.</small></ref>  In 2012, the following internal data leaked out: 90 percent of central party committee members had relatives and children who had emigrated to foreign countries; 85 percent of top officials were ready to abandon their positions and escape the country. That's why China doesn't allow any officials above mid-level local positions to hold their own passports.<ref>https://www.theepochtimes.com/the-chinese-communist-party-is-sinking-like-the-titanic-but-officials-have-a-plan_3382776.html</ref>  The problems grew out of socialism's [[single-party control|one-party system]] model with a lack of [[checks and balances]].

Bo’s wife was convicted of [[murder]] of a [[British]] businessman in August 2012.  Bo’s vice mayor was convicted of “bending the [[law]] for selfish ends, defection, abuse of power and [[bribe]]-taking” in September 2012.  Days later, the Party [[Politburo]] expelled Bo from the Party’s ranks and announced that it was transferring his case to state judicial authorities. The Party investigation concluded that Bo “bore major responsibility” in the cases of his vice-mayor’s actions and his wife’s involvement in the murder, and alleged that he “took advantage of his office to seek [[profit]]s for others and received huge bribes personally and through his family.”  [[Social media]] brought the scandal to light, creating problems for existing leadership.</small></ref>  In 2012, the following internal data leaked out: 90 percent of central party committee members had relatives and children who had emigrated to foreign countries; 85 percent of top officials were ready to abandon their positions and escape the country. That's why China doesn't allow any officials above mid-level local positions to hold their own passports.<ref>https://www.theepochtimes.com/the-chinese-communist-party-is-sinking-like-the-titanic-but-officials-have-a-plan_3382776.html</ref>  The problems grew out of socialism's [[single-party control|one-party system]] model with a lack of [[checks and balances]].

== External links ==

== External links ==