Corruption investigation targets aide to former China president

A Chinese political adviser and senior Communist Party official is being investigated for “suspected serious disciplinary violations.”

Ling Jihua, the vice chairman of the national committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a top advisory body, was a close aide to former Chinese President Hu Jintao.

His son, Ling Gu, died in a Ferrari crash in the capital, Beijing, in March 2012, triggering questions as to how a son of a party official could afford such a super sport vehicle and forcing Ling into media spotlight.

China has started a sweeping anti-corruption campaign by sending various monitoring teams across the country. This would be the first time the government employs special teams in sensitive, powerful departments of the administration.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has repeatedly said that he is serious in his fight against corruption as it threatens the very survival of the ruling Communist Party.

The Communist Party has announced that it will initiate permanent offices in major government and party departments to closely watch for potential cases of corruption.

The corruption watchdog in the party has announced that the special anti-graft teams will be stationed in the cabinet office and the parliament.

The Organization Department of the Communist Party will also see one such unit placed in its main office.