Sun Zhengcai, then Chongqing Communist Party secretary, is shown attending a meeiting of a top political advisory body in Beijing in March 2016. Photo: Jason Lee/REUTERS
Wall Street Journal: China Expels Party Official Once Seen as Potential Successor to Xi Jinping
Politburo moves quickly to evict Sun Zhengcai ahead of Communist Party Congress.
BEIJING—China’s Communist Party expelled a senior official over alleged corruption and abuses of power just weeks before a pivotal conclave where President Xi Jinping plans to bolster his authority.
State media said Friday’s expulsion of Sun Zhengcai, the former top official in the inland megacity of Chongqing, was ordered by the party’s governing Politburo—ending the career of a party stalwart once seen as a possible successor to Mr. Xi before being placed under probe in mid-July.
Mr. Sun’s downfall echoes the 2012 purge of a predecessor, Bo Xilai, who was Chongqing’s party chief and a rising political star when he fell from grace amid corruption allegations and a murder scandal involving his wife.
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WNU Editor: Leading officials are not expelled a few weeks before the Party Congress unless there is a problem. This is a red flag to me .... it tells me that there are many in China who are not happy with President Xi, especially his push to have an additional 5 year term in his Presidency. And while I do expect President Xi to get what he wants .... limits are going to be imposed on him .... the main one being that he will be leaving in the next Party Congress.
More News On Political Change In China
Sun Zhengcai expelled from CPC, public office -- Xinhau
Communist Party expels former high-flyer Sun Zhengcai in countdown to key congress -- South China Morning Post
China Communist Party expels former star Sun Zhengcai -- Washington Post
China Communist Party Expels Former Rising Star Sun, Xinhua Says -- Bloomberg
China's Communist Party expels top member ahead of congress -- Digital Journal
China's Next President: Reading the Tea Leaves of Chinese Politics -- The Diplomat