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Beijing Investigates an Official Challenged by a Journalist Beijing Investigates an Official Challenged by a Journalist
(35 minutes later)
HONG KONG — China’s top anti-corruption agency said Sunday that it was investigating a senior economic policy maker, Liu Tienan, in an abrupt turn in a case that openly pitted him against a campaigning investigative journalist. HONG KONG — China’s top anticorruption agency said Sunday that it was investigating Liu Tienan, a senior economic policy maker, in an abrupt turn in a case that openly pitted him against a campaigning investigative journalist.
The Communist Party’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, which runs corruption inquiries involving senior officials, said Mr. Liu was “suspected of grave violations of discipline, and is now under investigation by the organization,” according to a report from Xinhua, the state news agency. The agency, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party, which runs corruption inquiries involving senior officials, said Mr. Liu was “suspected of grave violations of discipline, and is now under investigation by the organization,” according to a report from Xinhua, the state news agency.
The report came more than five months after a Chinese journalist, Luo Changping, boldly challenged Mr. Liu and investigators by publicly accusing Mr. Liu of shady business deals and other misdeeds, including threatening to kill his mistress and overstating his academic qualifications. Mr. Luo laid out the charges on the Internet in early December. Unusually, they lingered there, despite a denial of wrongdoing made by a spokesman for Mr. Liu and the power of censors to erase the postings, which fanned a public uproar. The report came more than five months after the journalist, Luo Changping, boldly challenged Mr. Liu and investigators by publicly accusing Mr. Liu of shady business deals and other wrongdoing like threatening to kill his mistress and overstating his academic qualifications. Mr. Luo laid out the charges on the Internet in early December. They lingered there, despite a denial by a spokesman for Mr. Liu and the power of censors to erase the postings, which fanned a public uproar.
Yet for months, it appeared that Mr. Liu might survive the scandal. Since 2008, he has been a deputy chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, an agency that oversees many areas of economy policy. Until March, he was also head of the National Energy Administration, and he made several public appearances after Mr. Luo made the accusations, according to Chinese news reports. Yet for months it appeared that Mr. Liu might survive the scandal. Since 2008, he has been a deputy chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, an agency that oversees many areas of economy policy. Until March, he was also head of the National Energy Administration, and he made several public appearances after Mr. Luo made the accusations, according to Chinese news reports.
The Xinhua bulletin did not give details of the official allegations against Mr. Liu. But the journalist, Mr. Luo, a deputy editor of Caijing Magazine in Beijing, said he was sure they were related to his accusations. The Xinhua report did not detail the official allegations against Mr. Liu. But Mr. Luo, a deputy editor of Caijing Magazine in Beijing, said he was sure they were related to his accusations.
“I know there’s a direct connection, but I can’t say any more,” Mr. Luo said in a telephone interview.“I know there’s a direct connection, but I can’t say any more,” Mr. Luo said in a telephone interview.
“I had felt panicky before because nothing was happening, but I’ve breathed a sigh of relief now that this has happened,” he said, referring to the inquiry into Mr. Liu. “I had felt panicky before because nothing was happening, but I’ve breathed a sigh of relief now that this has happened,” he said, referring to the inquiry.
Mr. Liu, 58, could become a trophy in the effort by China’s new leader, Xi Jinping, to persuade disenchanted citizens that he is serious about ending abuses by officials. Since becoming party chief in November, Mr. Xi has vowed to clamp down on corruption, extravagance and self-enrichment and has said that both “flies” and “tigers” — junior and senior officials — will come under scrutiny. Mr. Liu, 58, could become a trophy in the effort by China’s new leader, Xi Jinping, to persuade disenchanted citizens that he is serious about ending abuses by officials. Since becoming party chief in November, Mr. Xi has vowed to clamp down on corruption, extravagance and self-enrichment; he has said both “flies” and “tigers” — junior and senior officials — would come under scrutiny.
Other officials under investigation for corruption and other crimes include Bo Xilai, a former Politburo member whose wife, Gu Kailai, was convicted and given a suspended death sentence in August on charges of murdering a British businessman. In April, the former railway minister, Liu Zhijun, was charged with corruption and abuse of power. Other officials under investigation for corruption and other crimes include Bo Xilai, a former Politburo member whose wife, Gu Kailai, was convicted and in August given a death sentence, which was then suspended, on charges of murdering a British businessman. In April, the former railway minister, Liu Zhijun, was charged with corruption and abuse of power.
The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection wields broad powers to detain officials and pursue secretive inquiries. In serious cases, the commission can hand officials over to the police and prosecutors for investigation on criminal charges, which almost always end with conviction and sentencing by party-run courts. The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection wields broad powers to detain officials and pursue secretive inquiries. In serious cases, the commission can hand officials over to the police and prosecutors to be investigated on criminal charges, which almost always end in convictions and sentences by party-run courts.
Despite the apparent vindication of Mr. Luo, the journalist, Chinese leaders are wary of letting the public seize the initiative in fighting corruption. The police recently arrested some citizens who had staged demonstrations to support taking on corruption and forcing officials to disclose their family wealth. Despite Mr. Luo’s apparent vindication, Chinese leaders are wary of letting the public seize the initiative in fighting corruption. “What I really hope to see is more change at the institutional level to fight corruption, not just focusing on individual cases,” Mr. Luo said.
“What I really hope to see is more change at the institutional level to fight corruption, not just focusing on individual cases,” Mr. Luo said.