World · World News Bureau
China investigates ex-official tied to disgraced Bo Xilai
Huang Qifan, a former senior administrator in southwestern China who was closely associated with the fallen politician Bo Xilai, has become the focus of a corruption probe by Beijing authorities.
LSN World News ·
Chinese state media confirmed Wednesday that Huang Qifan is under investigation for suspected violations of party discipline and law. Huang, who previously served as mayor of Chongqing during Bo Xilai's tenure as the municipality's Communist Party chief, has been placed under scrutiny as part of ongoing efforts to root out misconduct among high-ranking officials.
The investigation adds to the fallout from Bo Xilai's dramatic downfall in 2012, when the then-rising political star was removed from office amid allegations of corruption and involvement in a murder case. Bo was ultimately sentenced to life imprisonment, marking one of China's most prominent political purges in recent decades.
Huang's case reflects Beijing's continued focus on officials who held positions during the Bo Xilai era, when Chongqing became known for aggressive anti-corruption campaigns and neo-Maoist propaganda initiatives. Authorities have cast a wide net in examining associates from that period, seeking to eliminate what leadership views as residual misconduct and factional ties.
The investigation underscores President Xi Jinping's broader anti-corruption campaign, which has targeted thousands of officials at various levels of government since 2012. State investigators have not yet released specific allegations regarding Huang's conduct, and his case remains under examination.