Chief of staff to Chinese president reveals details surrounding purge in secretariat
Several key members of the Communist Party’s nerve centre hindered the investigation into former top aide Ling Jihua, says Li Zhanshu
The chief of staff to Chinese President Xi Jinping has revealed startling details of a power struggle within the Communist Party’s secretariat related to the investigation of a former leadership aide.
The comments shed some light on a recent purge within the General Office of the Central Committee – the nerve centre of the party – following the downfall of the aide, Ling Jihua.
Ling, who served former president Hu Jintao, was jailed for life last month for bribery, among other crimes.
During the investigation ... some had hidden facts and some had resisted the investigation
According to the chief of staff, Li Zhanshu, several key members of the secretariat had hindered the investigation into Ling.
“During the investigation ... some had hidden facts and some had resisted the investigation. Those are not honest people,” Li said in a speech delivered in June to the General Office.
An edited transcript of Li’s remarks was carried on the website of People’s Daily on Friday.
“During Ling’s stint in office, some people courted, pandered to, and flattered him without principles,” he said.
