
China probes former Wuhan mayor who presided over Covid response
Zhou Xianwang served as the top Communist Party official in the Chinese metropolis from 2018 until early 2021, playing a major role in the handling of the first known outbreak of Covid-19.
Beijing's two key anti-corruption watchdogs said Zhou was suspected of 'serious violations of disciplines and laws' — a common euphemism for graft.
He 'is currently undergoing disciplinary review and supervision investigation', according to a statement by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission.
The statement did not provide details about Zhou's alleged misconduct or the period of time during which it took place.
Zhou has served in a range of high-level roles, including from 2021 to 2023 as vice chairman of a provincial committee under China's top political advisory body.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has engaged in an expansive anti-corruption campaign since coming to power over a decade ago, ostensibly aimed at stamping out graft at all levels of the ruling Communist Party.
Supporters say the drive promotes clean governance, while critics say it serves as a tool for Xi to oust political opponents.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


HKFP
6 hours ago
- HKFP
China says foiled foreign spying plots including ‘honeytrap'
China said Thursday it had cracked three spying plots, including one in which a public servant was lured by the 'seductive beauty' of a foreign agent, urging government workers to remain vigilant against overseas threats. Beijing has stepped up espionage warnings in recent years as relations with the United States and other Western nations have worsened. Its state security ministry said Thursday that foreign spooks 'have been increasingly active in infiltrating and stealing secrets from China' and were targeting public officials. It did not name the countries alleged to be behind the plots. 'Individual officials have caused the damaging effects of leaking secrets due to a lack of belief, a weakened sense of discipline and a loosened awareness of rules… harming national security and interests,' the ministry said. It described a case in which a provincial government employee surnamed Li fell into a 'meticulously designed honeytrap' while travelling overseas for work. 'Unable to resist the seductive beauty of the foreign intelligence agent,' Li was then blackmailed with 'intimate photos' and forced to hand over official documents once back in China. He was sentenced to five years in prison for espionage, according to the statement. Another case involved a municipal cadre called Hou, who secretly photographed confidential documents and sold them to foreign spy agencies to recover lost savings from a gambling addiction. Hou was later held 'criminally responsible', the ministry said, without specifying his punishment. The ministry also detailed a third case in which a high-flying young official lost his job after sharing confidential information with a relative who photographed and sent it to overseas spy agencies. 'Leaks are often hidden in the small details of our work lives,' the ministry said. 'If our ideals and beliefs are not strong… they may eventually plummet into the criminal abyss designed by foreign spy agencies.' Beijing and Washington have long traded accusations of espionage, punishable by death in China. Last month, Beijing accused the US Central Intelligence Agency of an 'absurd' attempt to recruit Chinese citizens via 'amateurish' videos posted on social media. In April, Chinese security officials said they had implicated three US 'secret agents' in cyberattacks during February's Asian Winter Games in the northeastern city of Harbin. The state security ministry also said in March it had sentenced to death a former engineer for leaking state secrets to a foreign power.


AllAfrica
8 hours ago
- AllAfrica
For China, Dalai Lama succession also about water supply control
As the 14th Dalai Lama celebrates his 90th birthday with thousands of Tibetan Buddhists, there's already tension over how the next spiritual leader will be selected. Controversially, the Chinese government has suggested it wants more power over who is chosen. Traditionally, Tibetan leaders and aides seek a young boy who is seen as the chosen reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. It is possible that after they do this, this time Beijing will try to appoint a rival figure. However, the current Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in India, insists that the process of succession will be led by the Swiss-based Gaden Phodrang Trust, which manages his affairs. He said no one else had authority 'to interfere in this matter' and that statement is being seen as a strong signal to China. In the 20th century, Tibetans struggled to create an independent state, as their homeland was fought over by Russia, the UK and China. In 1951, Tibetan leaders signed a treaty with China allowing a Chinese military presence on their land. China established the Tibetan Autonomous Region in 1965. In name this means that Tibet is an autonomous region within China, but in effect it is tightly controlled. Tibet has a government in exile, based in India, that still wants Tibet to become an independent state. This is a continuing source of tension between the two countries. India also claims part of Tibet as its own territory. Beijing sees having more power over the selection of the Dalai Lama as an opportunity to stamp more authority on Tibet. Tibet's strategic position and its resources are extremely valuable to China, and play a part in Beijing's wider plans for regional dominance, and in its aim of pushing back against India, its powerful rival in south Asia. Tibet provides China with a naturally defensive border with the rest of southern Asia, with its mountainous terrain providing a buffer against India. The brief Sino-Indian war of 1962 when the two countries battled for control of the region, still has implications today for India and China, both of which continue to dispute border lands. As with many powerful nations, China has always been concerned about threats, or rival power bases, within its neighborhood. This is similar to how the US has used the Monroe Doctrine to ensure its dominance over Latin America, and how Russia seeks to maintain its influence over former Soviet states. Beijing views western criticism of its control of Tibet as interference in its sphere of influence. Another source of contention is that Beijing traditionally views boundaries such as the McMahon line defining the China-India border as lacking legitimac. That line is a border drawn up when China was at its weakest in the 19th century. Known in China as the 'century of humiliation,' the period was characterized by a series of unequal treaties, which saw the loss of territory to stronger European powers. Map: Tibet Information Office This continues to be a source of political tensions in China's border regions including Tibet. This is a controversial part of China's historical memory and continues to influence its ongoing relationship with the west. Tibet's importance to Beijing also comes from its vast water resources. Access to more water is seen as increasingly important for China's wider push towards self-sufficiency which has become imperative in the face of climate change. This also provides China with a significant geopolitical tool. For instance, the Mekong River rises in Tibet and flows through China and along the borders of Myanamar and Laos and onward into Thailand and Cambodia. It is the third longest river in Asia, and is crucial for many of the economies of south-east Asia. It is estimated to sustain 60 million people. China's attempts to control water supplies, particularly through the building of huge dams in Tibet, has added to regional tensions. Around 50% of the flow to the Mekong was cut off for part of 2021, after a Chinese mega dam was built. This caused a lot of resentment from other countries that had depended on the water. Moves by other nations to control access to regional water supplies in recent years show how water is now becoming a negotiating tool. India attempted to cut off Pakistan's water supply in 2025 as part of the conflict between the two. Control of Tibet allows China to pursue a similar strategy, which grants Beijing leverage in its dealings with New Delhi, and other governments. Another natural resource is also a vital part of China's planning. Tibet's significant lithium deposits are crucial for Chinese supply chains, particularly for their use in the electric vehicle industry. Beijing is attempting to reduce its reliance on Western firms and supplies, in the face of the present trade tensions between the US and China, and Donald Trump's tariffs on Chinese goods. Tibet's value to China is a reflection of wider changes in a world where water is increasingly playing an important role in geopolitics. With its valuable natural resources, China's desire to control Tibet is not likely to decrease. Tom Harper is a lecturer in international relations at the University of East London. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.


RTHK
8 hours ago
- RTHK
Record stress levels ahead of DSE results: survey
Record stress levels ahead of DSE results: survey A survey by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG) found over half of the 1,456 secondary students interviewed reported significant stress. Photo: RTHK With Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exam results coming out next week, student stress levels have hit a record high since the pandemic, a youth group said on Thursday. A survey by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG) found over half of the 1,456 secondary students interviewed reported significant stress. Among form 6 students awaiting DSE results, 52.9 percent reported they were highly stressed, a sharp rise from 41.7 percent last year and a record-high since 2020. Meanwhile, 57.1 percent of form 5 students preparing for upcoming exams also reported high stress levels. Andy Chan, supervisor of the HKFYG, said economic uncertainty and shrinking job prospects are weighing on young people's minds. "In 2020, there was Covid. It meant the whole of society, including students, encountered uncertainty. They didn't know what was happening... Compared to recent research, it's pretty similar because we don't know how the economy will go, will it rebound or steady as right now," he said. "We found that they feel pretty worried about whether they have good prospects after they make a choice in the Jupas [Joint University Programmes Admissions System], whether they will have a good job after they graduate." Chan also highlighted growing anxiety about artificial intelligence, with many students fearing their chosen study paths and potential careers could be marginalised or even eliminated by the time they enter the workforce. In response, he strongly encouraged students to develop contingency plans regardless of their exam results. Chan also said the HKFYG will enhance its support services next week to provide better assistance for students and parents navigating the stressful period.