David James
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Top Chinese official flees to US with millions
A top official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) fled to the United States with millions of Yuan, it has emerged after net users posted the information of his escape on Chinese social networking sites earlier this week. State-media subsequently was forced to confirm the news only now
though Wang Guoqiang, the CPC chief of Fengcheng city in Liaoning province in northeast China, is learnt to have fled the country in April.
Its the latest corruption scandal to hit the CPC as it gears up for the leadership change later this year. It also comes as senior party leaders are repeatedly calling for clean governance and is being seen as a case where authorities had reportedly tried to cover it but failed to do so.
Wang has reportedly taken more than Yuan 200 million or USD 31.5 million with him.
His disappearance in April did not come to light until the internet was abuzz on Sunday with posts claiming that he left with a large amount of money and had reunited with his wife in the United States. The posts alleged Wang fled amid the discipline authoritys investigation of a local company that has extensive dealings with the city owned by a former classmate of Wangs, the CPC mouthpiece, Peoples Dailys online edition said Wednesday.
The incident has triggered a debate among the state-run media about the efficacy of covering up scandals.
Why didn't officials take the initiative to publish the news about Wang but instead allowed rumors to spread and let the issue be exposed by the media? Wang's flight is certainly a scandal. It would be good for the officials if such a scandal could be hidden, but that's hardly realistic.
Only when the public gets to know the truth about a scandal involving officials through normal means can the damage it causes be limited to the minimum, government-affiliated Global Times said in an editorial on Wednesday.
The newspaper argued that if authorities could handle mass protest incidents in Qidong and Shifang where thousands protested against industrial projects --, a single piece of bad news will not overthrow China.
Information transparency in China won't come overnight. But it's undeniable that China will become more and more transparent. Although disclosing bad news may bring officials trouble at first, it is actually opening up a smooth road in the future. Simply covering things up only add risks, it said.
Top Chinese official flees to US with millions - Hindustan Times
China city party chief 'fled with money'
A person handling Chinese yuan bills A Chinese report says billions of dollars have been stolen by corrupt officials in recent years
A former top official of a city in northeast China has fled the country - reportedly with millions of dollars, Chinese reports say.
Wang Guoqiang, who was party secretary of Fengcheng city in Liaoning province, left for the United States in April with his wife, the People's Daily said.
Local officials said Mr Wang, who was being investigated for corruption, had been removed from his post, it said.
Several reports cited 200m yuan ($31.5m; £20m) as the amount taken.
The local officials did not elaborate on allegations that he had embezzled and transferred the funds to the US, where his family is believed to be.
But rumours surrounding the case, the latest in a series of corruption scandals, have been circulating online for some time.
According to the city's website, Mayor Ma Yanchuan took over as Fengcheng party secretary earlier this month.
Premier Wen Jiabao has repeatedly called corruption the biggest threat to Chinese Communist Party rule.
Corruption among officials remains a huge source of anger among China's population, says the BBC's Martin Patience in Beijing.
While the finances of the top leaders are off limits, many other senior officials have been brought down by scandals, says our correspondent.
'Not realistic'
An opinion piece published in the Global Times called on authorities in the province to reveal more information about the case so as to curb public speculation.
''Wang's flight is certainly a scandal. It would be good for the officials if such a scandal could be hidden, but that's hardly realistic,'' it said.
''Information disclosure in China has moved much further than in the late 1990s. No matter how bad the news is, it will reach the public sooner or later.''
A report released by China's central bank last year said more than $120 billionn (£74bn) had been stolen by corrupt officials who fled overseas, mainly to the US.
Between 16,000 and 18,000 officials and employees of state-owned companies left China with the funds from the mid-1990s up until 2008, the report said.
BBC News - China city party chief 'fled with money'
A top official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) fled to the United States with millions of Yuan, it has emerged after net users posted the information of his escape on Chinese social networking sites earlier this week. State-media subsequently was forced to confirm the news only now
though Wang Guoqiang, the CPC chief of Fengcheng city in Liaoning province in northeast China, is learnt to have fled the country in April.
Its the latest corruption scandal to hit the CPC as it gears up for the leadership change later this year. It also comes as senior party leaders are repeatedly calling for clean governance and is being seen as a case where authorities had reportedly tried to cover it but failed to do so.
Wang has reportedly taken more than Yuan 200 million or USD 31.5 million with him.
His disappearance in April did not come to light until the internet was abuzz on Sunday with posts claiming that he left with a large amount of money and had reunited with his wife in the United States. The posts alleged Wang fled amid the discipline authoritys investigation of a local company that has extensive dealings with the city owned by a former classmate of Wangs, the CPC mouthpiece, Peoples Dailys online edition said Wednesday.
The incident has triggered a debate among the state-run media about the efficacy of covering up scandals.
Why didn't officials take the initiative to publish the news about Wang but instead allowed rumors to spread and let the issue be exposed by the media? Wang's flight is certainly a scandal. It would be good for the officials if such a scandal could be hidden, but that's hardly realistic.
Only when the public gets to know the truth about a scandal involving officials through normal means can the damage it causes be limited to the minimum, government-affiliated Global Times said in an editorial on Wednesday.
The newspaper argued that if authorities could handle mass protest incidents in Qidong and Shifang where thousands protested against industrial projects --, a single piece of bad news will not overthrow China.
Information transparency in China won't come overnight. But it's undeniable that China will become more and more transparent. Although disclosing bad news may bring officials trouble at first, it is actually opening up a smooth road in the future. Simply covering things up only add risks, it said.
Top Chinese official flees to US with millions - Hindustan Times
China city party chief 'fled with money'
A person handling Chinese yuan bills A Chinese report says billions of dollars have been stolen by corrupt officials in recent years
A former top official of a city in northeast China has fled the country - reportedly with millions of dollars, Chinese reports say.
Wang Guoqiang, who was party secretary of Fengcheng city in Liaoning province, left for the United States in April with his wife, the People's Daily said.
Local officials said Mr Wang, who was being investigated for corruption, had been removed from his post, it said.
Several reports cited 200m yuan ($31.5m; £20m) as the amount taken.
The local officials did not elaborate on allegations that he had embezzled and transferred the funds to the US, where his family is believed to be.
But rumours surrounding the case, the latest in a series of corruption scandals, have been circulating online for some time.
According to the city's website, Mayor Ma Yanchuan took over as Fengcheng party secretary earlier this month.
Premier Wen Jiabao has repeatedly called corruption the biggest threat to Chinese Communist Party rule.
Corruption among officials remains a huge source of anger among China's population, says the BBC's Martin Patience in Beijing.
While the finances of the top leaders are off limits, many other senior officials have been brought down by scandals, says our correspondent.
'Not realistic'
An opinion piece published in the Global Times called on authorities in the province to reveal more information about the case so as to curb public speculation.
''Wang's flight is certainly a scandal. It would be good for the officials if such a scandal could be hidden, but that's hardly realistic,'' it said.
''Information disclosure in China has moved much further than in the late 1990s. No matter how bad the news is, it will reach the public sooner or later.''
A report released by China's central bank last year said more than $120 billionn (£74bn) had been stolen by corrupt officials who fled overseas, mainly to the US.
Between 16,000 and 18,000 officials and employees of state-owned companies left China with the funds from the mid-1990s up until 2008, the report said.
BBC News - China city party chief 'fled with money'
