and became a key reason why countries such as Australia were reluctant to ratify extradition treaties with China. This non-legal status was also why international police forces, including the Australian Federal Police, were unwilling to cooperate with China's corruption investigators when they wanted suspects who had fled overseas returned. But a new law will create a national graft-busting body, the National Supervision Commission, with a far wider scope. Vice-chairman of the National People's Congress, Li Jianguo, told congress delegates gathered in Beijing this week the struggle against corruption was "still grim and complex", and the goal of the National Supervision Commission was to "achieve full monitoring of all public officials". As 80 per cent of civil servants are party members, it was "inevitable" that party and state supervisionwould be unified. "To punish corruption with zero-tolerance attitude is the clear political stance of the Communist Party," he said.

A delegate carries a magazine with a cover showing Chinese President Xi Jinping as he leaves the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Credit:AP When Xi announced at the party's twice-a-decade meeting last October that "shuanggui", the practice of secret interrogation of party members would be abolished, human rights groups expressed hope. That hope has now given way to scepticism. The chief of the party's old graft-buster, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, is widely expected to emerge on Saturday as the chief of the new civilian anti-graft body. State media have reported the two anti-corruption bodies will also share offices.

Draft legislation released this week does outline legal rights for