China's graft watchdog drops euphemisms and uses 'adultery' as charge against officials

"Adultery" appears to have replaced "corrupt lifestyle" and "morally degenerate" in the lexicon of graft-busters.

Some researchers said the word - plain, easy to understand and laden with emotion for most people - suggested that the party authorities were hoping to invoke judgment by the public.

"Adultery" entered the lexicon of the Communist Party's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection when it announced in June that Dai Chunning , the former vice-president of China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation, had been expelled from the party for suspected corruption.

Party authorities used to describe extra-marital affairs with the words "morally degenerate", "decadent lifestyle" or "having improper relationships with women".

In the high-profile cases of Bo Xilai, the former Chongqing party boss, and his right-hand man, Wang Lijun, authorities used the more damming: "keeping or having improper sexual relationships with several women".

Xu Jie, deputy chief of the State Bureau for Letters and Calls which handles petitions, was sacked for "adultery" last week.

The CCDI announced on Wednesday that seven more state and local officials had been kicked out of the party for suspected graft. Five were accused of adultery, including three who were former aides of retired security tsar Zhou Yongkang .