Chinese police chief 'tried to claim asylum at US embassy' The much-championed dragnet was spearheaded by Mr Wang's boss, the ambitious Chongqing Communist Party secretary, Bo Xilai, who is vying for a place in China's next central leadership. But Mr Wang was suddenly moved from his converted post last Thursday to manage less glamorous departments, including education and historical record-keeping, science and environmental protection and landscaping. His new role - viewed as a humiliating sideways move if not demotion - was quickly seized upon by online commentators, sparking rumours he was facing a corruption investigation. Saishang Canglang wrote on Twitter: "I saw several scores of police flocking to the street near the US consulate - all sorts of police, plain clothes, too." Jiangshan Duojiao posted: "A car with Chongqing government plates was parked in front of the US consulate, and was hauled away by a truck." What's happening on the US Consulate road? Countless anti-riot police are blocking the road and checking the passengers in passing cars," posted Zanhua Kaile on one of China's social media sites, known as weibos. The US consulate in Chengdu could not be contacted to confirm the reports. Richard Buangan, the spokesman at the US Embassy in Beijing, said he was "not in a position to comment regarding reported requests for asylum." "I can tell you there was no threat to the [Chengdu] consulate yesterday, and the US government did not request increased security around the compound," he said. But even if the rumours are false, the affair is an embarrassment Mr Bo, who has called for a revival of Chairman Mao Tse-tung-era socialistic fervour as he seeks to garner respect and muster support for a seat on the new leadership, which will be unveiled this autumn. Mr Wang, a martial arts expert, was Mr Bo's right hand man in the fight against crime, which won headlines across the country and public approval. But it also attracted criticism because of the use of unconventional police tactics which were accused of abusing the legal process. Mr Wang's unconfirmed attempt to flee the country for the US comes just before Vice-President Xi Jinping's Washington visit, a trip widely seen as underscoring the near certainty of him succeeding President Hu Jintao later this year.