The probity of Shandong authorities was thrown into doubt earlier this year when the wife of Jiang Chunyun, former party boss of the province, was reportedly questioned in connection with business deals.

In February, several senior party members of the city of Tai'an, including the party boss and two of his deputies, were arrested and allegedly involved in the embezzlement of millions of yuan.

Mr Li said the crackdown was merely designed to show the sincerity of provincial authorities in eradicating 'bad elements'.

'I don't think they were the tip of an iceberg. They don't indicate corruption is widespread.

'Whoever the corrupt officials are, whether they are Chen Xitong and Wang Baosen [former leaders in Beijing], they only account for a very small number of the millions of cadres in our country,' he said.

In the run-up to inspection from the party's central committee later this month, Shandong media have run various commentaries in the past month urging cadres and officials to stop abusing their power.

In the city of Heze, all cadres above the level of deputy section head were ordered to stop their juniors from squandering public money, 'wining and dining' in restaurants.

Zhang Ruisheng, a member of the Heze Party Committee, admitted that a minority of police officers had taken bribes and abused their powers.