BEIJING, July 31 (Xinhua) — Yang Weize, former Party chief of Nanjing, capital of east China’s Jiangsu Province, has been stripped of his post and expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC).

His case has been handed over to judicial authorities, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the CPC said on Friday in a statement.

It said that an investigation found Yang had “seriously violated” party rules and concealed some personal matters which should have been reported to authorities. By accepting cash gifts, he was in “serious breach of integrity and self-discipline rules” and he used his position to seek interests for others. Some parties with “special relations” to him had accepted huge amounts of money.

Yang was also found in serious breach of the CPC frugality rules.

He also used his position to seek profits for others in the appointment and selection process for officials as well as in company operations, in addition to taking a huge sum of bribes, the statement said.

As a senior Party official, Yang showed no intention of disciplining himself and stopping his wrongdoings even after the 18th CPC National Congress in late 2012 when the new leadership launched a sweeping anti-corruption campaign, the statement said.

The Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP) announced on Friday that it has started investigation into Yang for alleged bribe-taking and placed him under “coercive measures”, which may include summons by force, residential surveillance, detention and arrest.

The CCDI announced in January that Yang had been placed under investigation for suspected serious violation of party disciplines and laws.

Yang was also an alternate member of the CPC Central Committee, and a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee.

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BEIJING, July 31 (Xinhua) — Former deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China’s (CPC’s) Yunnan Provincial Committee Qiu He has been expelled from the CPC and public office.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the CPC said in a statement on Friday that Qiu had seriously violated Party rules by accepting gifts and seeking benefits for the business activities of his relatives.

He also accepted huge sums in bribes, while taking advantage of his posts to seek benefits for businesses and other people.

His case of bribe taking has been transferred to the prosecutors, as the Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP) on Friday confirmed that Qiu is under investigation for corruption.

According to an SPP statement, he is under “coercive measures,” which include summons by force, bail, residential surveillance, detention and arrest.

Qiu, an alternate member of the 18th Central Committee of the CPC, was put under investigation in March.

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BEIJING, July 31 (Xinhua) — Zhao Kezhi has been transferred from party chief of southwest China’s Guizhou Province to north China’s Hebei Province.

The appointment was announced Friday by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

He took the place of Zhou Benshun, who was dismissed Tuesday and is under investigation for suspected “severe violation of discipline and the law” by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI).

The CPC Central Committee appointed Chen Min’er, the incumbent Guizhou governor, party chief of Guizhou earlier Friday.

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Wang Qishan (C), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), presides over a symposium for collecting suggestions on the revision of the CPC’s code of ethics and punishment ordinance with directors from the leading party group of central government departments in Beijing, capital of China, July 24, 2015. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

BEIJING, July 31 (Xinhua) — Senior leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Wang Qishan has urged a long-term perspective and innovation in revising CPC disciplinary regulations.

Wang, head of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, made the remarks recently during symposiums for collecting suggestions on the revision of the CPC’s code of ethics and punishment ordinance.

Achieving strict discipline within the Party requires institutional innovation with a long-term perspective, said Wang, adding the CPC should grasp the right direction and fix prominent current issues.

Ruling the Party with strict discipline is mandatory in order to achieve the rule of law, and the CPC’s discipline and regulations must be harsher than the law, Wang said.

Wang said the Party should continue to make full efforts to advance the anti-corruption drive to provide experience in improving the code of ethics.

The most important demand for strict CPC discipline is to abide by the Party Constitution, Wang said, adding the Party Constitution and regulations should also be enriched and perfected, with emphasis on the CPC’s “eight-point rules” targeting bureaucracy, extravagance, and undesirable work styles.

Wang also said Party committees and discipline inspection commissions at all levels should play a major role in guaranteeing the implementation of Party discipline and nip potential problems in the bud.

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Xi’s move aimed at warning cadres to stay clean and to reward those loyal to him, analysts say

Chinese President Xi Jinping with the ten newly promoted generals at Friday’s ceremony, a day after the announcement of former army chief Gen. Guo Boxiong to face prosecution for graft allegation. Photo: Xinhua

China’s President Xi Jinping, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission, on Friday promoted 10 senior military officials to full general.

The promotions came on the eve of the anniversary of the world’s largest army on Saturday, and just a day after Xinhua reported that former CMC vice-chairman Guo Boxiong had been expelled from the Communist Party and would face prosecution for alleged corruption.

The South China Morning Post reported in April that the top authorities had launched an investigation into Guo.

Experts said Xi was using the “carrot and stick” approach to warn all senior military officials to stay clean and loyal to the party. The promotions were to reward Xi’s loyal leaders as well as to send a message to grass-roots officers that he was determined to turn the army into a modern force.

All but one of the 10 generals promoted are younger than Xi, who is 63. This meant they had good chances for further promotion. The rising stars pundits are closely watching include the navy’s political commissar Miao Hua, 60; Jinan Military Command chief Zhao Zongqi, 60; and Beijing Military Command chief Song Puxuan, 60.

The oldest of the 10 is General Zhang Shibo, 63, incumbent president of the National Defence University.

The CMC yesterday also revealed that two major generals were being punished. The PLA Daily reported that Zhang Daixin, deputy commander of the Heilongjiang provincial military area, had received a 10-year jail term for graft, and Wang Xin, former political commissar of the armed police’s traffic command, was being investigated for “serious disciplinary violations”.

A retired senior colonel, who requested anonymity, said the moves highlighted Xi’s determination to clean up the military and that he would be fair to those who were loyal to him.

“The promotions and punishments are aimed at telling the army and the public that the PLA’s image should not be tarnished even though two former CMC vice-chairmen [Guo and Xu Caihou] had been investigated for graft,” he said.

Former president Jiang Zemin was known for promoting nearly 80 officials to full general to win their political support during his 13-year term.

“The anti-corruption campaign is the only and most effective way for Xi to consolidate his power in the army,” Hong Kong-based military observer Liang Guoliang said, adding that Guo and Xu’s fall hinted that Xi’s next step would be to carry out political reform in the army.

Liang said promoting Xi’s own men in the military would be crucial to ensuring it remained loyal to him despite his sweeping corruption crackdown.

The 10 officials promoted to full general

Name Title Age
Wang Guanzhong Deputy chief of the PLA General Staff Department 62
Yin Fanglong Deputy political chief of the PLA General Political Department 62
Miao Hua Political commissar of the PLA Navy 60
Zhang Shibo President of the National Defence University 63
Song Puxuan Chief of Beijing Military Command 61
Liu Yuejun Chief of Lanzhou Military Command 60
Zhao Zongqi Chief of Jinan Military Command 60
Zheng Weiping Political commissar of Chengdu Military Command 60
Li Zuocheng Chief of Chengdu Military Command 61
Wang Ning Chief of the Armed Police Force 60

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as Xi promotes 10 army officials to full general

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BEIJING, July 31 (Xinhua) — Zhao Liping, former police chief of north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and put under further investigation.

The CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) has said that Zhao took advantage of his posts to seek benefits for businesses and officials in addition to accepting large bribes. Zhao also possessed guns and ammunition illegally and is suspected of involvement in a murder case.

He was detained in March.

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BEIJING, July 30 (Xinhua) — The decision to expel former military leader Guo Boxiong from the Communist Party of China (CPC) for graft has showcased the CPC’s resolve and “zero tolerance” in fighting corruption, and will surely be supported by the entire Party, army and the public.

The decision also displayed a clear attitude by the CPC to strictly discipline itself and the military, according to an article under the byline of Xie Zhengping published on the official website of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

Guo, former vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), was expelled from the CPC for taking bribes, according to a decision made at a meeting of the CPC Central Committee’s Political Bureau on Thursday.

The political bureau also decided to transfer his case and relevant evidence to military prosecutors for handling in accordance with the law.

The decision came just days ahead of this year’s Army Day on Saturday, which will mark the 88th anniversary of the founding of the PLA.

The situation facing Guo is totally at his own peril as Guo, who was once a senior military leader, failed to maintain a selfless stance and exert strict self-discipline, and betrayed the trust and interests of the Party, the army and the public, the article said.

The article lambasted Guo for his unscrupulous personal greed, saying that he has “lost out in the face of temptations” and that his acts run counter to the CPC’s nature and tenets and have seriously undermined the image of the Party and the army.

“Such behaviors are intolerable under the Party’s code of conduct, unforgivable by the state’s law and will be a huge humiliation for him,” it said.

The article noted that there had been worries that the CPC might not be determined to clean up corruption within the military out of fear that the investigation into Guo soon after that of Xu Caihou, another senior military official, may cause instability among the army.

Those who have such concerns, the article went on, have underestimated the CPC’s anti-corruption resolve as well as the Party’s authority among the army and Chinese troops’ unshakable loyalty to the people.

Moreover, the honest soldiers and officers are also the victims of the violations of Guo and Xu, the article said, adding that the deeper the anti-graft campaign goes, the stronger the Chinese army will be. “With the investigation of the corrupt ones, Chinese servicemen will be better united,” it said.

The article said that a few corrupt members cannot represent the entire Chinese military, and the loyal, courageous and selfless nature of Chinese soldiers have remained the same for the past 80-plus years.

It further vowed non-stop efforts in weeding out corruption and said that with united efforts by the Party, the army and the people, China will eventually win the battle against corruption.

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SHANGHAI – China’s former vice-minister of environmental protection has been placed under investigation for “severe disciplinary and law violation”, the Communist Party’s anti-corruption agency said on Thursday, using a common euphemism for corruption.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said in a statement on its website that Zhang Lijun, who served in his position between 2008-2013, was being investigated, without providing further details.

Environmental degradation is a sensitive topic in China, with thousands of protests sparked every year by concerns about pollution, particularly from factories.

In February, the environment ministry was reprimanded by the CCDI for problems including interference by ministry officials and their relatives in environmental impact assessments.

President Xi Jinping launched a war against corruption after taking over as party and military chief in late 2012, waging a campaign that has brought down numerous senior officials, including former security tsar Zhou Yongkang.

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Xi Jinping speaks during a China-Turkey economic summit held in Beijing on July 30. (Photo/CNS)

The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) set up a central leading group for united front work on Thursday, reports our Chinese-language sister paper Want Daily.

State-run Xinhua news agency has yet to announce whether the group’s leader will be Chinese president Xi Jinping, who presided over the meeting at which the establishment of the group was announced.

The group will be responsible for ensuring united front work policies and regulations are implemented, carrying out research on related policies and laws, ensuring party secretaries of municipal governments and government agencies abide by policies.

Chao Chien-min, chief of Chinese Culture University’s Graduate School of Mainland China Studies and Dr Sun Yat-sen’s Thoughts, said the CPC decided to establish the group because united front work requires cross-department planning and execution across a wide range of areas.

United front work involves coordinating with non-party officials and individuals to ensure loyalty to the party throughout society.

Officials attending the political bureau’s Thursday meeting agreed that consistent and stable macro policy should be maintained as China’s economic growth remains slow, traditional growth momentums are weak and structural contradictions have yet to be resolved. The officials also decided to facilitate cultural exchanges between Han people and minority ethnic groups in Tibet to strengthen ethnic and national unity during the meeting.

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Delegates meeting at the National People’s Congress in Beijing. The new regulations clarify the procedure for demoting officials. Photo: Xinhua

The Communist Party has started testing vague new rules to demote cadres who are not up to their jobs, after President Xi Jinping’s call a year ago for an institutionalised system of promotion and demotion.

The full text of the trial regulations – implemented on July 19 and applied to all cadres above county level – was released to the public on Monday.

The move gives Xi’s administration greater flexibility in personnel reshuffles, particularly as his relentless anti-graft campaign has pulled down many officials, leaving their positions open.

The measure also comes ahead of the annual Beidaihe meeting, during which party elites set the tone for major domestic issues including personnel appointments.

With the 19th party congress due in two years, the new rules also pave the way for political stars to rise as others fall from their demotions.

The rules set out six criteria for demotion, including health issues, expiry of term, violating party discipline and being “unsuitable” for the role.

Among them, the “unsuitable” criterion has sparked the most controversy as critics say it is subjective and hard to quantify.

Under that criterion, 10 scenarios are listed, including disloyalty to the party, committing misdemeanours, incompetence at work and having a spouse or children who relocate overseas. The party had previously warned that families of officials who emigrate could indicate that a cadre was about to abscond.

Demotions will span five stages, from opening an initial investigation to removing an official from his post. Promotions will not be granted within one to two years of demotion.

Analysts have expressed their concerns over the trial regulations, which they find confusing.

“Pragmatically, it’s extremely hard to implement these rules,” said Zhu Lijia , a professor of public policy at the Chinese Academy of Governance.

“The fundamental problem is that there are not enough details about the criteria and they are not quantitative standards.”

Zhu also said the new rules could become a weapon for retaliation against dissenting officials, which would further silence differing opinions.

The regulations would be the responsibility of party committees and were to be carried out by personnel departments, but they did not involve a third party that could monitor the process independently, he said.

Renmin University political science professor Zhang Ming said: “Something like this could further empower the already powerful.

“So it could be that no specific reasons would be required to demote or remove cadres from their roles.”

The party leadership has packaged the scheme as a milestone that would effectively tackle the difficult problem of administrative incompetence among officials, urging the propaganda departments to help in spreading the message.

State-run Xinhua cited an unnamed official in the Organisation Department, which controls personnel assignments, as saying party cadres regularly received promotions but never faced the threat of being demoted, and that this had long been a problem within the party.

“The difficulty lies mainly in how to demote the group of officials who have not committed serious mistakes or violated party law and discipline, and yet are not capable of performing in their roles or do not fully devote themselves to work,” the official was quoted as saying.

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