Graft cloud falls over former Communist Party boss of Chinese rust-belt province
Wang Min targeted by anti-corruption investigators in agency’s second swing at Liaoning in recent years
The Communist Party’s former top man for the northeastern rust-belt province of Liaoning is under investigation, national graft-busters have said after kicking off the latest round of inspection tours.
Wang Min, 66, was suspected of violating discipline, the agency announced on Friday morning, using a term that often refers to corruption.
The move surprised many, given it came during the annual sessions of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference in Beijing, traditionally a time to display unity and strength.
Wang retired as Liaoning’s party chief last year following a six-year stint, and was then appointed to a senior role in the NPC’s committee of technology and education.
The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection began its tour of the province last week – its second in recent years.
A check in 2014 saw the deputy chair of the province’s top political advisory body sacked. The latest round of tours, which began in late February, is targeting the central propaganda department, several ministries, as well as Shandong and two other provinces.
The party has repeatedly branded such inspections as key weapons in fighting corruption.