Wanted Chinese tycoon Guo Wengui blames ‘spy’ in US broadcaster Voice of America for pulling plug on interview
US broadcaster declines to comment on charges from Guo Wengui, instead referencing its former ‘miscommunication’ statement
VOA declined to comment on those charges. Bridget Serchak, the broadcaster’s public relations director, told the South China Morning Post that the company has nothing to add to its previous statement, which blamed a “miscommunication” for the aborted interview.
Guo’s high-profile webcast with the Washington-based broadcaster was cut short less than halfway through its scheduled three hours, after he levelled new allegations against families of Communist Party leaders he said secretly controlled business empires. The termination of the interview sparked intense speculation on social media.
Guo, also known as Miles Kwok, is a self-made tycoon who left China in late 2013. Beijing requested an Interpol red notice against him a day before his highly promoted interview with VOA, alleging he had a former Chinese spy master dancing to his demands to the tune of 60 million yuan (US$8.7 million).
During the VOA interview, Guo said claims that he bribed the disgraced former spy chief Ma Jian were incorrect.