The battle against widespread corruption among Chinese governors
Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Charges of speculation and corruption are hitting leaders of the big cities and provinces across China, who are being arrested, investigated and removed from their positions of power. Experts wonder whether this is the result of a closer scrutiny of bad government, or rather just another way of removing Beijing’s political opponents, to substitute them with trusted men who will tow the party line.
The latest to be targeted is Liu Guoqiang, vice governor of Liaoning, who is under a disciplinary investigation within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for having used public money to pay for a holiday for himself and his wife. Liu was to have taken part in a business trip to Brazil, instead together with his wife he went elsewhere. Their names were on the Air France flight 447 from Rio de Janeiro to Paris that disappeared over the Atlantic on June 1st. A flight they thankfully never took.
Liu has now “disappeared” and is under investigation.
The arrest early June of Shenzhen mayor Xu Zongheng, for having failed to explain “serious disciplinary offences”. Unofficial sources describes envelopes stuffed with millions of Yuan and resident permits for Hong Kong released to young aspiring actresses in exchange for sexual favours. But above all the main charge is that of having bought the position of city mayor for over 20 million Yuan and of having paid an even greater sum for the position of CPP secretary for Shenzhen, a far more powerful position than mayor. His arrest has “shaken” business circles in Hong Kong, where Xu was well known.
According to latest reports, there are over 100 leading officials on trial or detained. Corruption has long been widespread in China, for which above all, low ranking officials have always paid the price. But for some time now it is staring to affect even party leaders. Experts comment that the battle against corruption is also being used by Beijing to eliminate unwanted leaders.
A hypothesis that is endorsed by the “clear-out” under way in Guangdong, where those removed or arrested include, Chen Shaoji, chief of police for over 13 years, the deputy minister for public security Zheng Shaodong and his assistant Xiang Huaizhu, as well as Wang Huayuan, for anti graft chief inspector who later went to Zhejiang, together with industrialists and businessmen. Analysts speak of a manoeuvre by Guangdong CCP chief Wang Yang, who has been removing old leaders since 2007 to consolidate his own power.
Days ago Pi Qiansheng, the powerful former CCP secretary for Binhai New Area in Tianjin was expelled from the party for having pocketed bribes. He was first charged in 2007 and has been detained since then. In June of the same year, Song Pingshun, another Tianjin leader, committed suicide after coming under investigation.
It must not be forgotten that two years ago, after being charged with robbing public funds, the Shanghai party chief Chen Liangyu, at the time one of the most powerful figures in the CCP, was arrested put on trial and condemned. Together with him numerous officials were targeted and investigated. It was a deathly blow to the “Shanghai Gang”, the powerful group to which Jang Zemin, Chinese president before Hu, also belonged.
Analysts observe that the level of corruption is the direct result of the same lack of respect for the human and economic rights of the population. They note that targeting the leading officials can serve to ensure a generation overturn, but it is not enough to stop corruption, rather closer controls, even of low ranking officials need to be put in place.
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26/07/2006
