BEIJING - Bo Xilai, a high-ranking Communist Party official, was stripped of his most powerful posts Tuesday, and authorities said his wife was being held in connection with the suspected murder of a British businessman, the latest revelations in a political scandal that has rocked China’s leadership.
Bo, who had lost his post as chief of the metropolitan region of Chongqing last month, was suspended from the Politburo, the 25-member body that runs China, and the larger Central Committee, on suspicion of serious disciplinary infractions, the government announced. The move ended the political career of Bo, who as recently as February was viewed as a serious contender for one of the top nine posts in the leadership.
The announcement appeared to surprise the British government. An hour later, William Hague, the British foreign minister, told reporters: “It’s a death that needs to be investigated, on its own terms and on its own merits, without political considerations. So I hope they will go about it in that way, and I welcome the fact that there will be an investigation.’’
Xinhua said Gu and her son, Bo Guagua, had had close relations with Heywood but later had “a conflict over economic interests.’’ Zhang Xiaojun, described as an “orderly’’ working in Bo’s home, is also suspected of the crime.
China is facing a once-in-a-decade handoff of power to a new generation of leaders this autumn, and the toppling of Bo has caused a serious disruption at a time when stability is paramount. Bo, 62, a charismatic and contentious politician who openly aspired to join that new generation, has commanded support among some other descendants of revolutionary figures, certain generals, and those in the Communist Party’s left wing unhappy about the government’s current direction.
“China is a socialist country ruled by law, and the sanctity and authority of law shall not be trampled,’’ Xinhua said Tuesday, attributing the remarks to unnamed senior officials. “Whoever has broken the law will be handled in accordance with law and will not be tolerated, no matter who is involved.’’
--more--"
"Chinese leader demands more anticorruption efforts" Associated Press, April 17, 2012
BEIJING - Premier Wen Jiabao of China is demanding tougher anticorruption efforts amid a huge political scandal over a now-suspended Politburo member whose wife is a suspect in the death of a British businessman....
Media reports have raised questions about whether Bo
tried to abuse his power to quash the investigation into his wife, Gu
Kailai. Gu and a household employee are being investigated over the
death of Neil Heywood of Britain.
Also Monday, party newspaper Guangming Daily published the latest in a series of state media editorials calling on readers to support action against Bo and his wife and not to believe speculation that the politician’s sidelining is linked to infighting among top leaders.
--more--"
"Fallen Chinese politician’s son defends himself" Associated Press, April 26, 2012
BEIJING - The son of fallen Chinese politician Bo Xilai defended his academic record and social life while at university in England and the United States in a letter that was the latest example of the extraordinary public evolution of China’s messiest political scandal.
Bo Guagua, a Harvard graduate student, denied that he received preferential treatment in admissions, was a poor student, and drove a pricey sports car. In a letter to the Harvard Crimson student newspaper published Tuesday, he said he attended social events as an Oxford University undergraduate to broaden his perspective.
Bo Xilai was believed to have been a leading candidate for one of the
nine seats on the ruling Communist Party’s all-powerful Politburo
Standing Committee, but his political career is now considered over. Bo
fell out of favor with some in the leadership over his flashy personal
style, suspected corruption, and the excesses of a dual campaign to
fight gangsters and promote Mao Zedong-era communist culture.
Bo Guagua’s mother, Gu Kailai, and an assistant were named at the same time as suspects in the killing last November of British businessman Neil Heywood, whose formerly close relations with the Bo family had soured. Bo Xilai, formerly one of China’s most powerful politicians, had earlier been fired as party boss of the southwestern mega-city of Chongqing after his former police chief attempted to defect at the US Consulate.
There has been no official word on the scandal since the announcement of his suspension from the party, and Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said Wednesday that the investigation was proceeding, but gave no details.
--more--"
Related: Chinese high court spares tycoon's life
"Chinese activist in hiding after fleeing house arrest; US won’t confirm run to its embassy" by Andrew Jacobs and Jonathan Ansfield | New York Times, April 28, 2012
BEIJING - Chen Guangcheng, the blind rights lawyer who has been under extralegal house arrest in his rural village for the past 19 months, has escaped from his heavily guarded home and is in hiding in the capital, rights advocates and Chinese officials said Friday.
The activist Hu Jia told the BBC that Chen, 40, had scaled a wall, was driven to Beijing, and was in the US Embassy. An official in the Chinese Ministry of State Security confirmed that Chen had managed to reach the embassy, though US officials would not confirm that report.
Those who have spoken to Chen say he slipped away from his captors
Sunday evening in Shandong Province, where he has been held
incommunicado since his release from prison in September 2010.
“He is reluctant to go overseas and wants only to live like a normal Chinese citizen,’’ said Bob Fu, president of China Aid, a Christian rights organization based in Texas that had been in touch with him as recently as Friday morning.
The escape would represent a significant public relations challenge to the Chinese government, which has long sought to deny reports that local officials in Dongshigu village were keeping Chen and his wife locked in their home even though there are no legal charges against him.
If Chen is now on the grounds of the US Embassy in Beijing, Obama administration officials are likely to be cautious in handling his case, given that he is one of China’s most internationally recognized dissidents and has been the subject of extralegal abuses in China for many years.
--more--"
