Chinese lawyers group investigates member for questioning Communist Party policy
Shenzhen based copyright lawyer Li Guobin ‘made inappropriate comments about the party’s major policies’ on social media
A Shenzhen-based lawyer has been investigated by the city’s lawyers association for “making inappropriate comments” about the Communist Party’s major policies.
According to a Shenzhen Lawyers Association document posted online, Li Guobin, a copyright lawyer and partner at the Shenzhen-based Rongguan Law Firm, was under investigation for comments he made on his Sina Weibo microblog. Li confirmed on Thursday that an investigation was under way.
Li has been outspoken on Weibo, questioning the official response to floods in Hebei and making sarcastic remarks about Foreign Minister Wang Yi. It was unclear which comments triggered the investigation.
“We received complaints that Li Guobin made inappropriate comments about the party’s major policies,” the notice said.
“The case was transferred from Shenzhen’s judiciary to our association.”
Under discipline rules amended in October, party members can be expelled for inappropriate comments about the party’s key policies, for vilifying party leaders or for distorting party history.