Though China and Canada do not have a formal extradition
treaty, China is undergoing talks with Canada in order to secure the extradition
of Lai. Officials in China have remained
silent over whether or not they have encountered difficulties in their
request to obtain Lai, especially
since Lai would face an almost certain death
penalty if he is sent back.
During a four year operation run by Lai’s YuanHua
Group, goods including cars, oil, and cigarettes were smuggled through
the port of
Xiamen in China’s Fujian province, totaling some
$6.6 billion dollars.
Following a 15-month investigation and arrests,
a total of 14 senior government officials and YuanHua Group employees were
sentenced to
death for their involvement in the scam.
Another 70 people were sent to jail, receiving sentences between three
years to life.
Lai fled to Hong Kong, then to Canada, in August
1999 after a senior police officer tipped him off about the impending arrests.
The out-of-court settlement ended a five-year
battle and also marked the first pay-out to forced Chinese laborers from
a Japanese company. The
settlement particularly relates to the treatment
of 986 Chinese prisoners who were forced to work in miserable and dangerous
conditions.
Though the compensation, which is about 4,600
dollars for each victim, was a step forward in Japan’s recognition of its
past, some Chinese are disturbed
that the Kaijima company has stated it does not
owe any legal responsibility.
In June 1995, the Hanaoka plaintiffs became the
first Chinese war victims to file a lawsuit in Japan. The outcome is generally
regarded as groundbreaking
due to Japanese companies?previous outright
refusal to demonstrate remorse for wartime behavior.
Beijing also strongly rejected Chen’s comments about involving the U.S.
to help restore cross-strait dialogue. “The Chinese people are entirely
capable of
handling this issue on their own. There is no need for other countries
to participate or interfere in this question,?said Foreign ministry spokeswoman
Zhang Qiyue.
Chen, from the Democratic Progressive Party, has been facing possible
impeachment from a KMT controlled Legislature, due his handling of the
economy and the China Policy. Moreover, Beijing has been focusing
its attention on KMT officials it an attempt to place more pressure on
Chen and
shrink his maneuverability in dealing with the One China Policy issue.
Last updated: 03 November 2000
