Dake Kang
@dakekang.bsky.social
中文名：姜大翼｜AP Journalist in Beijing | 美联社北京分社的一位伟大时代的记录者｜你可以用微信联系我（dakekang) 或者电报, Signal, WhatsApp (+1 201 937 9797). 邮箱: [email protected]
33/Nonetheless, Li's willingness to speak out makes him singular among the thousands targeted by Fox Hunt and Sky Net. Few others, if any, have criticized the Party publicly.
Experts agree: Li and his family paid dearly for speaking out. "They see me as a traitor," Li says.
Experts agree: Li and his family paid dearly for speaking out. "They see me as a traitor," Li says.
December 15, 2025 at 4:50 AM
33/Nonetheless, Li's willingness to speak out makes him singular among the thousands targeted by Fox Hunt and Sky Net. Few others, if any, have criticized the Party publicly.
Experts agree: Li and his family paid dearly for speaking out. "They see me as a traitor," Li says.
Experts agree: Li and his family paid dearly for speaking out. "They see me as a traitor," Li says.
31/The state harasses lawyers Li hires to defend his family, warning them it’s a political case & the outcome is already determined.
A plainclothes officer stopped me from taking photos at the courthouse (photo below), saying a “sensitive political case” was being heard.
A plainclothes officer stopped me from taking photos at the courthouse (photo below), saying a “sensitive political case” was being heard.
December 15, 2025 at 4:49 AM
31/The state harasses lawyers Li hires to defend his family, warning them it’s a political case & the outcome is already determined.
A plainclothes officer stopped me from taking photos at the courthouse (photo below), saying a “sensitive political case” was being heard.
A plainclothes officer stopped me from taking photos at the courthouse (photo below), saying a “sensitive political case” was being heard.
30/There's serious violations of due process. Interrogation transcripts are altered. The state refuses to provide evidence to lawyers. Details of the charges are secret. His relatives are convicted of receiving embezzled funds - before proving Li himself committed embezzlement.
December 15, 2025 at 4:48 AM
30/There's serious violations of due process. Interrogation transcripts are altered. The state refuses to provide evidence to lawyers. Details of the charges are secret. His relatives are convicted of receiving embezzled funds - before proving Li himself committed embezzlement.
26/Fascinating tidbit: A leaked photo of the internal police software used to hunt officials suggests the moniker “Sky Net” was inspired by “The Terminator."
Xi is known to be a Hollywood fan, & state media describes "Fox Hunt" arrests as cinematic, "like a Hollywood blockbuster"
Xi is known to be a Hollywood fan, & state media describes "Fox Hunt" arrests as cinematic, "like a Hollywood blockbuster"
December 15, 2025 at 4:45 AM
26/Fascinating tidbit: A leaked photo of the internal police software used to hunt officials suggests the moniker “Sky Net” was inspired by “The Terminator."
Xi is known to be a Hollywood fan, & state media describes "Fox Hunt" arrests as cinematic, "like a Hollywood blockbuster"
Xi is known to be a Hollywood fan, & state media describes "Fox Hunt" arrests as cinematic, "like a Hollywood blockbuster"
25/Using family as leverage isn't new. In Maoist China, your family background was often your fate. The concept of punishment across "three generations" was common.
But with U.S. tech, police and Party investigators gained incredible visibility into everyone's ties and finances.
But with U.S. tech, police and Party investigators gained incredible visibility into everyone's ties and finances.
December 15, 2025 at 4:44 AM
25/Using family as leverage isn't new. In Maoist China, your family background was often your fate. The concept of punishment across "three generations" was common.
But with U.S. tech, police and Party investigators gained incredible visibility into everyone's ties and finances.
But with U.S. tech, police and Party investigators gained incredible visibility into everyone's ties and finances.
24/Experts say it's part of a broad pattern: Chinese authorities use family in China essentially as hostages, pressuring targets overseas.
They send agents to "persuade" targets to return. They stalk people from coast to coast, using night goggles and threatening notes
They send agents to "persuade" targets to return. They stalk people from coast to coast, using night goggles and threatening notes
December 15, 2025 at 4:43 AM
24/Experts say it's part of a broad pattern: Chinese authorities use family in China essentially as hostages, pressuring targets overseas.
They send agents to "persuade" targets to return. They stalk people from coast to coast, using night goggles and threatening notes
They send agents to "persuade" targets to return. They stalk people from coast to coast, using night goggles and threatening notes
23/The Party arrests over 40 of his friends, family and former associates, including his pregnant daughter and elderly people suffering from cancer and heart disease. Three die in detention, his aunt is released in a vegetative state.
December 15, 2025 at 4:42 AM
23/The Party arrests over 40 of his friends, family and former associates, including his pregnant daughter and elderly people suffering from cancer and heart disease. Three die in detention, his aunt is released in a vegetative state.
20/At this point, it's still a local power struggle, confined to Li's home province. But things escalate dramatically when Li decides to speak out again: Publicly, to anti-government media overseas.
He attacks the Party, calling it repressive & accusing it of a cover-up.
He attacks the Party, calling it repressive & accusing it of a cover-up.
December 15, 2025 at 4:41 AM
20/At this point, it's still a local power struggle, confined to Li's home province. But things escalate dramatically when Li decides to speak out again: Publicly, to anti-government media overseas.
He attacks the Party, calling it repressive & accusing it of a cover-up.
He attacks the Party, calling it repressive & accusing it of a cover-up.
19/But Li’s past comes back to haunt him.
In 2020, his friend and ex-subordinate is arrested for criticizing the Party over COVID. Li is called and warned that associates of Xu – his former rivals in the Party – are going after him. In July 2020, he’s put under investigation.
In 2020, his friend and ex-subordinate is arrested for criticizing the Party over COVID. Li is called and warned that associates of Xu – his former rivals in the Party – are going after him. In July 2020, he’s put under investigation.
December 15, 2025 at 4:40 AM
19/But Li’s past comes back to haunt him.
In 2020, his friend and ex-subordinate is arrested for criticizing the Party over COVID. Li is called and warned that associates of Xu – his former rivals in the Party – are going after him. In July 2020, he’s put under investigation.
In 2020, his friend and ex-subordinate is arrested for criticizing the Party over COVID. Li is called and warned that associates of Xu – his former rivals in the Party – are going after him. In July 2020, he’s put under investigation.
17/The common thread running through these cases?
The big crime isn't corruption. It's disobedience, disloyalty, betrayal.
If you read the charges, what's listed 1st is always about "forsaking ideals", "losing Party spirit", "betraying your original aspirations".
Corruption, adultery - that's 2nd.
The big crime isn't corruption. It's disobedience, disloyalty, betrayal.
If you read the charges, what's listed 1st is always about "forsaking ideals", "losing Party spirit", "betraying your original aspirations".
Corruption, adultery - that's 2nd.
December 15, 2025 at 4:36 AM
17/The common thread running through these cases?
The big crime isn't corruption. It's disobedience, disloyalty, betrayal.
If you read the charges, what's listed 1st is always about "forsaking ideals", "losing Party spirit", "betraying your original aspirations".
Corruption, adultery - that's 2nd.
The big crime isn't corruption. It's disobedience, disloyalty, betrayal.
If you read the charges, what's listed 1st is always about "forsaking ideals", "losing Party spirit", "betraying your original aspirations".
Corruption, adultery - that's 2nd.
16/
-Former Guangxi governor: Rumor is that he was involved in smuggling rare earths to the U.S. when China was using it as leverage in trade negotiations. Another betrayal.
-In contrast, ex-foreign minister Qin Gang - taken down after a scandalous affair - is now reported OK, in a low profile job
-Former Guangxi governor: Rumor is that he was involved in smuggling rare earths to the U.S. when China was using it as leverage in trade negotiations. Another betrayal.
-In contrast, ex-foreign minister Qin Gang - taken down after a scandalous affair - is now reported OK, in a low profile job
December 15, 2025 at 4:32 AM
16/
-Former Guangxi governor: Rumor is that he was involved in smuggling rare earths to the U.S. when China was using it as leverage in trade negotiations. Another betrayal.
-In contrast, ex-foreign minister Qin Gang - taken down after a scandalous affair - is now reported OK, in a low profile job
-Former Guangxi governor: Rumor is that he was involved in smuggling rare earths to the U.S. when China was using it as leverage in trade negotiations. Another betrayal.
-In contrast, ex-foreign minister Qin Gang - taken down after a scandalous affair - is now reported OK, in a low profile job
15/Take a few recent examples:
-The minister of agriculture: Rumor is that he was arrested because he didn't take Xi's orders to secure China's food supply safety seriously.
-Ongoing PLA purge: Rumors that China's missile readiness affected, secrets sold to the US. Xi was livid over the betrayal
-The minister of agriculture: Rumor is that he was arrested because he didn't take Xi's orders to secure China's food supply safety seriously.
-Ongoing PLA purge: Rumors that China's missile readiness affected, secrets sold to the US. Xi was livid over the betrayal
December 15, 2025 at 4:32 AM
15/Take a few recent examples:
-The minister of agriculture: Rumor is that he was arrested because he didn't take Xi's orders to secure China's food supply safety seriously.
-Ongoing PLA purge: Rumors that China's missile readiness affected, secrets sold to the US. Xi was livid over the betrayal
-The minister of agriculture: Rumor is that he was arrested because he didn't take Xi's orders to secure China's food supply safety seriously.
-Ongoing PLA purge: Rumors that China's missile readiness affected, secrets sold to the US. Xi was livid over the betrayal
14/In such an environment, the question of who gets targeted by the corruption crackdown is intrinsically a political question. If it was just about corruption, a lot more heads would roll.
Instead, it’s often about power struggles. Or increasingly, whether you’ve displeased Xi.
Instead, it’s often about power struggles. Or increasingly, whether you’ve displeased Xi.
December 15, 2025 at 4:32 AM
14/In such an environment, the question of who gets targeted by the corruption crackdown is intrinsically a political question. If it was just about corruption, a lot more heads would roll.
Instead, it’s often about power struggles. Or increasingly, whether you’ve displeased Xi.
Instead, it’s often about power struggles. Or increasingly, whether you’ve displeased Xi.
13/Anyone who's spent enough time in China hears the stories: dozens of luxury villas, obtained mysteriously. The wife-and-husband duo, one in business, one in politics.
Not naming names, but all I can say is that it is isn't just common; it's ubiquitous.
Not naming names, but all I can say is that it is isn't just common; it's ubiquitous.
December 15, 2025 at 4:30 AM
13/Anyone who's spent enough time in China hears the stories: dozens of luxury villas, obtained mysteriously. The wife-and-husband duo, one in business, one in politics.
Not naming names, but all I can say is that it is isn't just common; it's ubiquitous.
Not naming names, but all I can say is that it is isn't just common; it's ubiquitous.
10/After a year, investigators from Beijing come and uncover the full extent of Xu’s corruption. Xu is arrested and thrown in prison.
But at this point, Li is frustrated and quits the government. He spends three years under audit before he’s allowed to retire.
But at this point, Li is frustrated and quits the government. He spends three years under audit before he’s allowed to retire.
December 15, 2025 at 4:21 AM
10/After a year, investigators from Beijing come and uncover the full extent of Xu’s corruption. Xu is arrested and thrown in prison.
But at this point, Li is frustrated and quits the government. He spends three years under audit before he’s allowed to retire.
But at this point, Li is frustrated and quits the government. He spends three years under audit before he’s allowed to retire.
9/In 2012, Xi takes power and declares a sweeping crackdown on corruption. Months later, Li writes up a letter to report his boss.
He kicks off a power struggle. Things turn ugly. Xu threatens him & his siblings and forces them out of their state jobs.
He kicks off a power struggle. Things turn ugly. Xu threatens him & his siblings and forces them out of their state jobs.
December 15, 2025 at 4:21 AM
9/In 2012, Xi takes power and declares a sweeping crackdown on corruption. Months later, Li writes up a letter to report his boss.
He kicks off a power struggle. Things turn ugly. Xu threatens him & his siblings and forces them out of their state jobs.
He kicks off a power struggle. Things turn ugly. Xu threatens him & his siblings and forces them out of their state jobs.
8/Rather than investigate Xu, the Jixi authorities went after the protesters. Police said they were “strictly preventing” residents from complaining to the central government in Beijing, documents show.
Li was aghast.
Li was aghast.
December 15, 2025 at 4:20 AM
8/Rather than investigate Xu, the Jixi authorities went after the protesters. Police said they were “strictly preventing” residents from complaining to the central government in Beijing, documents show.
Li was aghast.
Li was aghast.
7/Residents dug their heels in. They protested and hung banners declaring the city government's actions illegal. They threatened to go to Beijing to appeal to the central government.
December 15, 2025 at 4:20 AM
7/Residents dug their heels in. They protested and hung banners declaring the city government's actions illegal. They threatened to go to Beijing to appeal to the central government.
6/Residents protested against planned demolitions and development that would enrich Xu's associates.
Xu declared an apartment complex, a culture center and a thriving shopping plaza as part of a "shantytown", slating it for demolition.
Xu declared an apartment complex, a culture center and a thriving shopping plaza as part of a "shantytown", slating it for demolition.
December 15, 2025 at 4:19 AM
6/Residents protested against planned demolitions and development that would enrich Xu's associates.
Xu declared an apartment complex, a culture center and a thriving shopping plaza as part of a "shantytown", slating it for demolition.
Xu declared an apartment complex, a culture center and a thriving shopping plaza as part of a "shantytown", slating it for demolition.
5/Li's former boss, Xu Zhaojun, was enormously corrupt, according to Li, which he backed up with reams of receipts and internal documents the AP reviewed.
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December 15, 2025 at 4:19 AM
5/Li's former boss, Xu Zhaojun, was enormously corrupt, according to Li, which he backed up with reams of receipts and internal documents the AP reviewed.
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4/We profiled one of the only targets speaking out publicly: Li Chuanliang, former vice major of Jixi, a mining city in northeast China.
Li told us how his life turned upside down after reporting his former boss in 2013, when Xi launched an crackdown on corruption.
Li told us how his life turned upside down after reporting his former boss in 2013, when Xi launched an crackdown on corruption.
December 15, 2025 at 4:18 AM
4/We profiled one of the only targets speaking out publicly: Li Chuanliang, former vice major of Jixi, a mining city in northeast China.
Li told us how his life turned upside down after reporting his former boss in 2013, when Xi launched an crackdown on corruption.
Li told us how his life turned upside down after reporting his former boss in 2013, when Xi launched an crackdown on corruption.
3/Beijing is using this tech to track former officials under what authorities call Operations “Fox Hunt” and “Sky Net.” More than 14,000 people, including some 3,000 officials, have been brought back to China from 120 countries through coercion, arrests and pressure on relatives.
December 15, 2025 at 4:18 AM
3/Beijing is using this tech to track former officials under what authorities call Operations “Fox Hunt” and “Sky Net.” More than 14,000 people, including some 3,000 officials, have been brought back to China from 120 countries through coercion, arrests and pressure on relatives.
2/We've found U.S. police analytics tech sold to China mines texts, payments, flights, calls, and other data to identify the friends and family of officials and their assets. They allow police to essentially hold relatives hostage, using them to coerce targets to return to China.
December 15, 2025 at 4:17 AM
2/We've found U.S. police analytics tech sold to China mines texts, payments, flights, calls, and other data to identify the friends and family of officials and their assets. They allow police to essentially hold relatives hostage, using them to coerce targets to return to China.
3/In past administrations, the U.S. government even actively encouraged and assisted big tech to sell surveillance gear to Chinese police, holding adversary seminars and assisting them in attending trade shows hosted by the Chinese Ministry of Public Security.
October 29, 2025 at 2:33 PM
3/In past administrations, the U.S. government even actively encouraged and assisted big tech to sell surveillance gear to Chinese police, holding adversary seminars and assisting them in attending trade shows hosted by the Chinese Ministry of Public Security.
2/We found tech giants spent hundreds of millions of dollars to lobby Washington on trade with China, opposing measures to curb exports of technology used for surveillance and policing in China despite repeated warnings about the potential for rights abuses
October 29, 2025 at 2:33 PM
2/We found tech giants spent hundreds of millions of dollars to lobby Washington on trade with China, opposing measures to curb exports of technology used for surveillance and policing in China despite repeated warnings about the potential for rights abuses