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‘Disloyal and two-faced’ Chinese provincial boss accused of ignoring Xi Jinping’s orders facing prosecution

  • Former Shaanxi party chief Zhao Zhengyong was implicated in scandal where president’s orders to destroy illegal structures were disobeyed
  • Anti-corruption investigators say Zhao and subordinate Chen Guoqiang have been expelled from the party and had their illicit gains confiscated

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Former Shaanxi party chief Zhao Zhengyong was denounced as “two-faced” and “disloyal” by anti-corruption investigators. Photo: ImagineChina
Frank Tangin Beijing

Two senior provincial officials accused of ignoring President Xi Jinping’s orders to tear down illegal structures at a national reserve in northwest China have been expelled from the Communist Party and had their cases transferred to prosecutors.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the country’s top anti-corruption watchdog, said that Zhao Zhengyong, the former party chief in Shaanxi province, and Chen Guoqiang, a former vice governor of the province, had been expelled for serious violations of party discipline and laws.

The commission also said the pair’s illegal gains had been confiscated.

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Zhao was denounced as “two-faced” and “disloyal and disrespectful” in a 600-word statement that continued: “He showed no psychological emphasis on the party Central Committee’s decisions and plans, and was politically irresponsible and half-hearted at work. He deceived the party many times and resisted party inspection.”

Zhao was placed under investigation in January last year after a documentary on state broadcaster China Central Television highlighted the issue of corruption in Shaanxi.

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