What was Chongqing's vice-mayor Wang Lijun doing during the long hours he spent in the US consulate in Chengdu on Monday and Tuesday?
That is one of the many questions raised after Beijing confirmed that Wang, once a close ally of Chongqing party boss Bo Xilai, had spent a day in the consulate. There is also intense speculation about Wang's motive and the circumstances under which he left the consulate.
An English statement released on Thursday by the Foreign Ministry spokesman's office said Wang 'left after staying there for one day', but the Chinese version said he 'left after being stranded there for one day'.
Johnny Lau Yui-sui, a political commentator, said: 'The English version is for foreigners and the Chinese one is for local people. The mainland government was trying to emphasise that Wang was forced to stay in the consulate - not on his own volition.'
The US State Department confirmed on Thursday that Wang 'did visit the consulate and he later left the consulate of his own volition'. It also said Wang had requested a meeting in his capacity as a vice-mayor.
Both the Chinese and US governments gave no details on Wang's visit.
'There is no information regarding his stay,' a spokeswoman from the consulate in Chengdu said.
