Chinese authorities are seeking to whitewash the alleged crimes of former Chongqing party head Bo Xilai (薄熙來) and protect his political backers by shifting the blame to his wife, who will be tried for murder, activists say.
In the biggest political scandal to hit China in decades, Bo’s wife, Gu Kailai (谷開來), has been charged with homicide over the death of British business associate Neil Heywood in November.
The evidence against her is “irrefutable and substantial,” state media said last week, indicating the authorities are intent on settling the case as soon as possible.
However, observers said it was much less clear whether wider corruption allegations against Bo would ever be examined in a court of law.
Bo, the son of a revered Communist revolutionary, won national fame with a draconian crackdown on criminal elements and a Maoist-style “red revival” campaign in Chongqing when he was Chinese Communist Party (CCP) party secretary for the city.
His fall from grace began when his former right-hand man, police chief Wang Lijun (王立軍), fled to a US consulate to seek asylum, after reportedly confronting Bo with information related to Heywood’s murder.
Bo’s rapid downfall was hugely embarrassing for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and exposed deep divisions at its top level.
Analysts and political activists say the party will be keen to see the back of the scandal and neutralize the risk it could pose to other senior figures, before a once-in-a-decade leadership transition due in the autumn.
While Bo is being probed for corruption, observers say that Gu’s impending trial will now take up the limelight.
“It is the same old thing, they are continuing to cover things up,” said former top CCP leader Bao Tong (鮑彤), who was purged in 1989 for his role in the Tiananmen democracy protests.
“They will put on a political farce, a fake show, and then when another scandal erupts, they do it all over again,” the 79-year-old said.
There is speculation that the case could go to court as soon as early next month, but no date has been confirmed.
“Right now there is a lot that we don’t know, because there has been no transparency in the case ... and there are a lot of things [the party] does not want people to know about,” prominent rights activist Hu Jia (胡佳) said.
“If there is a political struggle inside the party, then they will become even more closed and non-transparent. They won’t reach a decision through the judiciary, but it will be a party decision based on political considerations,” he added.
Hu said the party’s powerful Politics and Law Commission, along with top leaders, including Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤), will likely decide the fates of Bo and Gu.
ANNOUNCEMENT: People who do not comply with the ban after a spoken warning would be reported to the police, the airport company said on Friday Taoyuan International Airport Corp on Friday announced that riding on vehicles, including scooter-suitcases (also known as “scootcases”), bicycles, scooters and skateboards, is prohibited in the airport’s terminals. Those using such vehicles should manually pull them or place them on luggage trolleys, the company said in a Facebook post. The ban intends to maintain order and protect travelers’ safety, as the airport often sees large crowds of people, it said, adding that it has stepped up publicity for the regulation, and those who do not comply after a spoken warning would be reported to the police. The company yesterday said that
NEW YEAR’S ADDRESS: ‘No matter what threats and challenges Taiwan faces, democracy is the only path,’ William Lai said, urging progress ‘without looking back’ President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday urged parties across the political divide to democratically resolve conflicts that have plagued domestic politics within Taiwan’s constitutional system. In his first New Year’s Day address since becoming president on May 20 last year, Lai touched on several issues, including economic and security challenges, but a key emphasis was on the partisan wrangling that has characterized his first seven months in office. Taiwan has transformed from authoritarianism into today’s democracy and that democracy is the future, Lai said. “No matter what threats and challenges Taiwan faces, democracy is the only path for Taiwan,” he said. “The only choice
QUIET START: Nearly a week after applications opened, agencies did not announce or promote the program, nor did they explain how it differed from other visitor visas Taiwan has launched a six-month “digital nomad visitor visa” program for foreign nationals from its list of visa-exempt countries who meet financial eligibility criteria and provide proof of work contracts. To apply, foreign nationals must either provide proof that they have obtained a digital nomad visa issued by another country or demonstrate earnings based on age brackets, the Bureau of Consular Affairs said. Applicants aged 20 to 29 must show they earned an annual salary of at least US$20,000 or its equivalent in one of the past two years, while those aged 30 or older must provide proof they earned US$40,000 in
TECH CORRIDOR: Technology centers and science parks in the south would be linked, bolstering the AI, semiconductor, biotech, drone, space and smart agriculture industries The Executive Yuan yesterday approved a “Southern Silicon Valley” project to promote the development of an artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor industry in Chiayi County, Tainan, Pingtung County and Kaohsiung. The plan would build an integrated “S-shaped semiconductor industry corridor” that links technology centers and science parks in the south, Executive Yuan spokesperson Michelle Lee (李慧芝) said yesterday after a Cabinet meeting. The project would bolster the AI, semiconductor, biotech, drone, space and smart agriculture industries, she said. The proposed tech corridor would be supported by government efforts to furnish computing power, workforce, supply chains and policy measures that encourage application and integration
RSS