For those running the machinery of the Chinese Communist Party’s offensive on corruption, not everything is always smooth sailing. Behind the impressive tally of Communist officials and businessmen investigated for “violations of Party discipline” lies a quiet but real struggle between different factions within the Chinese regime.
According to The Trend, a Hong Kong magazine known for its coverage of political rumors from the mainland, there have been over 40 attempts on the lives of Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) officials since 2013, including a dozen targeting Wang Qishan, the secretary of the CCDI, personally.
The magazine said that some of the attempts have been carried out by well-armed, professional hitmen. It is impossible to know whether the incidents took place, or took place in the way The Trend alleges. It is, however, easy to understand why officials around China would like to get rid of Wang Qishan, given that billions of dollars in income streams from corrupt activities are on the line.
The ‘March 28 Case’
The Trend said that one recent attempt against Wang Qishan occurred late this March when the anti-corruption boss headed to Henan Province in central China to take part in inspections.
For reasons of security, the details of Wang’s itinerary were kept highly secret and altered many times. The Henan provincial Party secretaries and CCDI staff were given only vague notice before the visit, which was originally scheduled for March 27 but then changed to the March 28 at the last minute.
Even when Wang arrived via military airbase in the provincial capital of Zhengzhou, he abruptly changed the location of a scheduled conference and wholly restructured previous arrangements for his tour of cities throughout Henan.
