Cadres in Chongqing told to toe line amid high-level corruption probe
The metropolis’ former party secretary and political high-flier, Sun Zhengcai, under investigation for alleged graft
Officials in Chongqing in southwest China have been warned to strictly toe the Communist Party line following the announcement of an investigation into former party boss and Politburo member Sun Zhengcai.
The official Chongqing Daily reported on Tuesday that the city had called a special meeting of senior cadres the previous day following Beijing’s decision to investigate Sun, once seen as a candidate for the next generation of Chinese leadership.
“It is the number one political requirement to defend the core status of General Secretary Xi Jinping,” said a statement released after the meeting.
“[We] will proactively prevent and properly respond to possible sensitive events and negative impact[s],” it said.
The meeting was led by Chen Miner, a close associate of Xi who replaced Sun as the party secretary for Chongqing this month.
Sun is under investigation by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection for “serious violations of party discipline”, a euphemism for corruption.
