Beijing-backed party boss too powerful for Guangdong clique

The ongoing anti-corruption storm in Guangdong, which has led to the downfall of several high-ranking officials, shows the political clout and determination of provincial Communist Party secretary Wang Yang to break up entrenched local interests and push forward his reform ideas, political analysts say.

In the past six months, many officials with powerful connections in Guangdong have been placed under shuanggui - a form of Communist Party discipline - such as top political adviser Chen Shaoji, former top graft fighter Wang Huayuan and former provincial Public Security Bureau deputy head Zheng Shaodong.

The Guangdong-based analysts said the fall of the officials not only represented a victory against graft, but was also a clear indication that Mr Wang enjoys Beijing's full backing. Zhu Jianguo, a Shenzhen-based independent political observer, said there had been a political battle between Mr Wang and the Guangdong clique of officials. And Mr Wang had won, Mr Zhu said.

'Many local officials disagreed with Mr Wang's campaign to eliminate labour-intensive industries, which has led to the recent large number of closures of Guangdong enterprises that once contributed greatly to make the province the richest on the mainland,' he said.

'From what I know, during the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in March, many Guangdong-based political advisers close to local enterprises criticised Mr Wang's campaign to eliminate labour-intensive industries.

'But now Chen Shaoji, one of the senior 'Guangdong gang' members and the provincial top political adviser, has been brought down.'

Another analyst said it was always difficult to handle corrupt high-ranking officials through the legal system because they could use their political resources to cover their crimes.