Chinese official drops first hint that Zhou Yongkang will be probed for corruption
The hint, the strongest so far that the leadership will soon make the case public, was dropped after the South China Morning Post asked Lv Xinhua, spokesman for the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), whether Zhou was being investigated.
A senior official suggested publicly for the first time yesterday that Beijing may soon formally announce it is investigating retired security tsar Zhou Yongkang for corruption.
The hint, the strongest so far that the leadership will soon make the case public, was dropped after the South China Morning Post asked Lv Xinhua, spokesman for the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), whether Zhou was being investigated.
At a press conference ahead of the annual session starting today, Lv sidestepped the question but stressed that "anyone who violates the party's discipline and the state law will be seriously investigated and punished, no matter who he is or how high ranking he is".
Watch: Top Chinese official hints Zhou Yongkang to be probed for corruption
He added: "Since last year, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Ministry of Supervision have conducted investigations or announced punishment for 31 top officials, including some at ministerial level.