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| China’s Antigraft Push Snares Most Senior Target Yet | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| In the most far-reaching public move so far in Chinese President Xi Jinping’s drive against corruption, the Communist Party leadership on Monday expelled a retired military commander from the party and handed him over for a crime investigation on charges of taking massive bribes in return for military promotions. | In the most far-reaching public move so far in Chinese President Xi Jinping’s drive against corruption, the Communist Party leadership on Monday expelled a retired military commander from the party and handed him over for a crime investigation on charges of taking massive bribes in return for military promotions. |
| The announcement followed months of speculation that party investigators had closed in on retired General Xu Caihou, who until his retirement in late 2012 occupied one of the highest posts in the People’s Liberation Army, as a vice chairman of the party’s Central Military Commission, which oversees the military. | The announcement followed months of speculation that party investigators had closed in on retired General Xu Caihou, who until his retirement in late 2012 occupied one of the highest posts in the People’s Liberation Army, as a vice chairman of the party’s Central Military Commission, which oversees the military. |
| Now General Xu, who was also a member of the elite Politburo, has been made the most senior official so far to be caught publicly in Mr. Xi’s effort to clean up the image of the party elite, tarnished by the impression shared by many Chinese citizens of widespread corruption and brazen self-enrichment, including in the military. | Now General Xu, who was also a member of the elite Politburo, has been made the most senior official so far to be caught publicly in Mr. Xi’s effort to clean up the image of the party elite, tarnished by the impression shared by many Chinese citizens of widespread corruption and brazen self-enrichment, including in the military. |
| A meeting of the Politburo, made up of 25 senior officials, decided to expel General Xu from the party and hand him over to prosecutors for investigation after hearing the results of a secretive inquiry started in March, Xinhua, the state-run news agency reported. | A meeting of the Politburo, made up of 25 senior officials, decided to expel General Xu from the party and hand him over to prosecutors for investigation after hearing the results of a secretive inquiry started in March, Xinhua, the state-run news agency reported. |
| “The investigation found Xu Caihou used his office to provide help for others in promotions, and accepted bribes directly or through his family,” said Xinhua, citing the report presented to the party leaders. “He exploited the influence of his office to bring gain to others, and his family accept wealth and property from others, gravely violating party discipline and bringing suspicion of the crime of accepting bribes. The circumstances were grave and the effects were malignant.” | “The investigation found Xu Caihou used his office to provide help for others in promotions, and accepted bribes directly or through his family,” said Xinhua, citing the report presented to the party leaders. “He exploited the influence of his office to bring gain to others, and his family accept wealth and property from others, gravely violating party discipline and bringing suspicion of the crime of accepting bribes. The circumstances were grave and the effects were malignant.” |
| Nor was General Xu the only former senior official targeted by the meeting. Xinhua announced that the Politburo also expelled from the party Li Dongsheng, a former vice minister of public security, who party investigators found took massive bribes, as well as two former executives of a state oil conglomerate, Jiang Jiemin and Wang Yongchun, who were accused of similar misdeeds. | Nor was General Xu the only former senior official targeted by the meeting. Xinhua announced that the Politburo also expelled from the party Li Dongsheng, a former vice minister of public security, who party investigators found took massive bribes, as well as two former executives of a state oil conglomerate, Jiang Jiemin and Wang Yongchun, who were accused of similar misdeeds. |
| Since assuming leadership of the party in November 2012, Mr. Xi has promised to punish graft among senior officials – “tigers”, as he has called them. But so far so figures as powerful as General Xu have been publicly singled out under Mr. Xi. Zhou Yongkang, the powerful former head of domestic security, has also been under party investigation, according to sources close to leaders. But there have been no official accusations made public against Mr. Zhou. | Since assuming leadership of the party in November 2012, Mr. Xi has promised to punish graft among senior officials – “tigers”, as he has called them. But so far so figures as powerful as General Xu have been publicly singled out under Mr. Xi. Zhou Yongkang, the powerful former head of domestic security, has also been under party investigation, according to sources close to leaders. But there have been no official accusations made public against Mr. Zhou. |
| General Xu, who turned 71 in June, has been in poor health, according to party insiders who have previously discussed the investigation against him. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the risk of official reprisals for discussing sensitive party affairs. | General Xu, who turned 71 in June, has been in poor health, according to party insiders who have previously discussed the investigation against him. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the risk of official reprisals for discussing sensitive party affairs. |
| The announcement from the Politburo meeting said the decision to punish General Xu showed that nobody was beyond censure. | The announcement from the Politburo meeting said the decision to punish General Xu showed that nobody was beyond censure. |
| “No matter how big or small someone’s power, how high or low his office, if he violates party discipline and state law, he will be sternly punished without any indulgence or soft-handedness,” said Xinhua, citing the meeting. | “No matter how big or small someone’s power, how high or low his office, if he violates party discipline and state law, he will be sternly punished without any indulgence or soft-handedness,” said Xinhua, citing the meeting. |