BEIJING — The Chinese Communist Party said on Monday that Sun Zhengcai, a high-flying politician who had been seen as a potential future premier, was under investigation over suspected “grave violations of discipline,” ending his career and raising the stakes of a national leadership shake-up that is just months away.

Mr. Sun, 53, is the most senior serving politician purged so far in a five-year drive against corruption, disloyalty and abuse of power that President Xi Jinping began soon after taking control of the Communist Party in late 2012. The terse party announcement about the investigation issued through Xinhua, the state news agency, did not specify the allegations against Mr. Sun. “Violations of discipline” is a vague term that can include corruption, abuses of power and disloyalty to the party.

But by removing Mr. Sun, Mr. Xi has eliminated a potential obstacle to his efforts to consolidate power later this year, when a Communist Party congress will appoint a new leadership team to serve under him for his second five-year stint as party leader and as president.

Mr. Sun had been party secretary of Chongqing, a riverside city in southwestern China, since late 2012, when he was sent there to help clean up a previous political scandal. His abrupt dismissal was announced on July 15, initially without explanation. Since then, he has not appeared in public, and his name had not appeared in state media until the official confirmation on Monday that he was under investigation.</s>BEIJING (AFP) - The Chinese Communist Party’s anti-graft watchdog has launched an investigation into Sun Zhengcai, a Politburo member who was once seen as a contender for a top leadership post, state media reported Monday (July 24).

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection is investigating Sun, who until a week ago was party chief in the major city of Chongqing, for “serious discipline violation”, Xinhua news agency said.

Sun is the first serving member of the 25-person Politburo to be placed under investigation since Bo Xilai, who was jailed for life in 2013 in the wake of President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign.

Xinhua’s brief report did not say whether Sun would remain a member of the Politburo. His replacement as party chief in Chongqing was announced on July 15.

The shake-up in Chongqing comes as the Communist Party prepares for a congress later this year that is expected to cement Xi’s position as the most powerful Chinese leader in a generation.

Sun, who was replaced in the city by former Xi aide Chen Min'er, had once been tipped as a contender for promotion to the Politburo’s elite seven-member standing committee, the nation’s top political body.</s>(UPDATED) The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection is investigating Sun Zhengcai, who until last week was party chief in the major city of Chongqing, for a 'serious discipline violation'

BEIJING, China (UPDATED) – The Chinese Communist Party's anti-graft watchdog has launched an investigation into a Politburo member who was once seen as a contender for a top leadership post, state media reported Monday. July 24

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection is investigating Sun Zhengcai, who until a week ago was party chief in the major city of Chongqing, for "serious discipline violation", Xinhua news agency said.

Sun is the first serving member of the 25-person Politburo to be placed under investigation since Bo Xilai, who was jailed for life in 2013 in the wake of President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign.

Xinhua's brief report did not say whether Sun would remain a member of the Politburo. His replacement as party chief in Chongqing was announced on July 15.

The shake-up in Chongqing comes as the Communist Party prepares for a congress later this year that will likely cement Xi's position as the most powerful Chinese leader in a generation.

At the gathering, Xi is widely expected to secure a second five-year term.

But all eyes will be on who will depart or ascend to the Politburo's standing committee, the elite group of seven politicians who run the world's second largest economy.

Sun, who was replaced in the city by former Xi aide Chen Miner, had once been tipped for promotion to the exclusive body.

Bo Xilai was also once the party chief in Chongqing, the country's fourth largest city and an industrial metropolis in the southwest of the country.

Bo was rumoured to be part of a network plotting to stop Xi from assuming control of the party in 2012, and Sun was tasked with erasing Bo's influence on the city.

But in February party discipline inspectors publicly rebuked Sun for failing to get the job done, leaving his future in question.

Shortly after replacing Sun, Chen was quoted as saying by a local daily that the city must "resolutely remove the bad impact" of Bo's case.

Chen first worked with Xi in 2002, when the latter became party chief of the eastern province of Zhejiang.

In late 2012 the former propaganda chief's career kicked into overdrive following Xi's ascension to the head of the Communist Party.

Chen became governor of the southwestern province of Guizhou in 2013, adding the title of party secretary in 2015. – Rappler.com</s>The Chinese Communist Party's anti-graft watchdog has launched an investigation into a Politburo member who was once seen as a contender for a top leadership post, state media reported Monday.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection is investigating Sun Zhengcai, who until a week ago was party chief in the major city of Chongqing.

Sun, 53, is being investigated for 'serious discipline violation', Xinhua news agency said in a report on July 24.

Sun is the first serving member of the 25-person Politburo to be placed under investigation since Bo Xilai, who was jailed for life in 2013 in the wake of President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign.

Sun was once regarded as a possible successor to Xi Jinping, 64, who became the President of People's Republic of China in 2013, according to The Wall Street Journal which quoted people familiar with the matter.

Xinhua's brief report did not say whether Sun would remain a member of the Politburo, the nation's top political body.

Sun was removed from his position as the party chief in Chongqing on July 15, according to a previous Xinhua report.

Chen Min'er, 56, was appointed as Sun's replacement on the same day.

Chongqing is one of the four municipalities in China - alongside Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin - and is an industrial metropolis in the south-west of the country.

The shake-up in Chongqing comes as the Communist Party prepares for a congress later this year that is expected to cement Xi's position as the most powerful Chinese leader in a generation.

Sun, who was replaced in the city by former Xi aide Chen Min'er, had once been tipped as a contender for promotion to the Politburo's elite seven-member standing committee.

Bo Xilai was also once the party chief in Chongqing.

Bo was rumoured to be part of a network plotting to stop Xi from assuming control of the party in 2012, and Sun was tasked with erasing Bo's influence on the city.

But in February party discipline inspectors publicly rebuked Sun for failing to get the job done, leaving his future in question.

Shortly after replacing Sun, Chen was quoted as saying by a local daily that the city must 'resolutely remove the bad impact' of Bo's case.

Chen first worked with Xi in 2002, when the latter became party chief of the eastern province of Zhejiang.

In late 2012 the former propaganda chief's career kicked into overdrive following Xi's ascension to the head of the Communist Party.

Chen became governor of the southwestern province of Guizhou in 2013, adding the title of party secretary in 2015.</s>The Chinese Communist Party's anti-graft watchdog has launched an investigation into a Politburo member once seen as a contender for a top leadership post, just months before a major political congress.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection is investigating Sun Zhengcai, who some 10 days ago was ousted as party chief in the major city of Chongqing, for "serious discipline violation", the official Xinhua news agency said.

Sun is the first serving member of the 25-person Politburo to be placed under investigation since Bo Xilai, also a former Chongqing party chief who was jailed for life in 2013 in the wake of President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign.

Xinhua's brief report did not expand on the accusations nor say whether Sun would remain a member of the Politburo. His replacement as party chief in Chongqing was announced on July 15.

Analysts say the shake-up in Chongqing will have implications for the Communist Party's 19th congress later this year, which will likely cement Xi's position as the most powerful Chinese leader for a generation.

At the gathering, Xi is widely expected to secure a second five-year term.

But all eyes will be on who will depart or ascend to the Politburo's standing committee, the elite group of seven politicians who run the world's second largest economy.

Sun, who was replaced in the city by former Xi aide Chen Miner, had once been tipped for promotion to the standing committee. At 53, he is the youngest member of the Politburo.

Sun, who had kept a low profile, had even been touted as Xi's potential successor, said Simone van Nieuwenhuizen, a Sydney-based researcher and co-author of "China and the New Maoists".

"His downfall signals a growing sense of insecurity among Xi and his followers," van Nieuwenhuizen told AFP.

While the exact reasons for his fall are unknown, "we do know however that Sun had been promoted as a protege of Xi's predecessor Hu Jintao," she said.

"Xi could therefore consider Sun a threat to his own agenda and political ambitions; other proteges of Hu have also previously been held back from seeking higher positions under Xi."

At least four new standing committee members will likely be named at the congress and "Xi is overseeing their selection", said Bill Bikales, head of Bikales Advisors, an East Asian political and economic advisory service.

"Xi Jinping is seizing personal control of the succession process in a way that neither (former president) Jiang (Zemin) nor Hu was able," he said.

"This is unprecedented in the post-Deng Xiaoping decades and has implications for the 20th Congress in 2022 as well," Bikales said, referring to the nation's longtime leader who died in 1997.

As the country's fourth largest city and an industrial metropolis in the southwest of the country, Chongqing is a major post for ambitious politicians.

Bo was rumoured to be part of a network plotting to stop Xi from assuming control of the party in 2012, and Sun was tasked with erasing Bo's influence on the city.

But in February party discipline inspectors publicly rebuked Sun for failing to get the job done, leaving his future in question.

Shortly after replacing Sun, Chen was quoted as saying by a local daily that the city must "resolutely remove the bad impact" of Bo's case.

Chen first worked with Xi in 2002, when the latter became party chief of the eastern province of Zhejiang.

In late 2012 the former propaganda chief's career kicked into overdrive following Xi's ascension to the head of the Communist Party.

Chen became governor of the southwestern province of Guizhou in 2013, adding the title of party secretary in 2015.</s>The former Communist Party boss of the Chinese city of Chongqing, Sun Zhengcai, is under investigation for suspected serious violations of discipline, the official Xinhua news agency said on Monday.

BEIJING: The former Communist Party boss of one of China's most important cities, the southwestern megalopolis of Chongqing, is under investigation for "suspected serious violations of discipline", the party's anti-corruption watchdog said on Monday.

Sun Zhengcai, a senior official once considered a contender for top leadership, had been party chief of the city until an abrupt announcement this month that he had been replaced by a rising political star close to President Xi Jinping.

Chongqing is perhaps best known outside the country for its association with its disgraced former party boss Bo Xilai, who was once himself a contender for top leadership before being jailed for life in 2013 in a dramatic corruption scandal.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) announced the investigation into Sun in a one-line statement on its website, a move that comes ahead of a key party congress in the autumn where Xi will cement his grip on power.

Sources had earlier told Reuters that Sun was under investigation for discipline violations, a term that can encompass everything from taking bribes to not toeing the party line.

Officials are sometimes put under investigation but not formally charged. However, once a party announcement about a probe is publicly announced, they are almost always punished.

It was not possible to reach Sun directly for comment.

Sun had been seen as a potential candidate for elevation at the autumn congress and as a possible future premier. But sources with ties to the leadership and foreign diplomats say Sun has been out of favour after the CCDI in February criticised Chongqing authorities for not doing enough to root out Bo's influence.

At that meeting, Sun said he accepted the watchdog's assessment "without question", according to a party statement at the time.

Sun was unceremoniously replaced in Chongqing by Chen Miner, who days after taking up the post demanded officials banish the "evil legacy" of Bo.

Chen is a rising political star close to Xi, and is seen as a potential new member of the party's elite Standing Committee when it is unveiled after a reshuffle at the once-every-five-years party congress.

Since assuming power in late 2012, Xi has pursued a relentless campaign against corruption, warning that the problem could threaten the party's ability to retain power, though some analysts say he is also taking down political rivals.</s>BEIJING
• The Chinese Communist Party's anti-graft watchdog has launched a probe into a Politburo member who was once seen as a contender for a top leadership post, state media confirmed yesterday.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection is investigating Mr Sun Zhengcai, who until a week ago was party chief in the major city of Chongqing, for "serious discipline violation", Xinhua news agency said, an euphemism for graft.

Mr Sun, 53, is the first serving member of the 25-person Politburo to be placed under investigation since Bo Xilai, who was jailed for life in 2013 in the wake of President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption drive.

Xinhua's brief report did not say whether Mr Sun would remain a Politburo member. His replacement as party chief in Chongqing was announced on July 15.

The shake-up in Chongqing comes as the Communist Party prepares for a congress later this year that is expected to cement Mr Xi's position as the most powerful Chinese leader in a generation. Mr Sun, who was replaced in the city by Mr Xi's former aide Chen Min'er, had once been tipped as a contender for promotion to the Politburo's elite seven-member standing committee, the nation's top political body.

Bo was also once the party chief in Chongqing, the country's fourth- largest city and an industrial metropolis in the south-west of China. He was rumoured to be part of a network plotting to stop Mr Xi from assuming control of the party in 2012, and Mr Sun was tasked with erasing Bo's influence on the city.

But in February, party discipline inspectors publicly rebuked Mr Sun for failing to get the job done, leaving his future in question. Shortly after replacing Mr Sun, Mr Chen was quoted as saying by a local daily that the city must "resolutely remove the bad impact" of Bo's case.

Mr Sun's downfall has raised Mr Chen's profile. Mr Chen first worked with Mr Xi in 2002, when the latter became party chief of the eastern province of Zhejiang.

In late 2012, the former propaganda chief's career kicked into overdrive following Mr Xi's ascension to the head of the Communist Party. Mr Chen became governor of the south-western province of Guizhou in 2013, adding the title of party secretary in 2015.

Mr Sun's sudden fall from grace was taken as a warning that Mr Xi will play succession politics by his own ruthless rules. "Sun Zhengcai was a sacrificial object to send a message across the party," said Mr Wu Qiang, a current affairs writer and former political science lecturer at Tsinghua University in Beijing.

"Xi Jinping has signalled that he doesn't feel bound by the order of promotion set by the previous generation of leaders," he added.</s>BEIJING (NYTIMES) - All the political stars seemed aligned for Mr Sun Zhengcai to be promoted to a top national post in China at the Communist Party's congress this autumn.

His most recent high-profile post was party secretary for Chongqing, a vast city of 30 million where he was sent to clean up a government in the aftermath of a corruption and murder scandal.

Last year, President Xi Jinping publicly shook his hand and praised his city.

Then, on July 15, he abruptly vanished.

Within five days of publicly vowing absolute loyalty to Mr Xi and extolling his "superlative political wisdom", Mr Sun was dismissed and put under investigation and has since disappeared, his career terminated by the man he had praised.

The sudden fall from grace was taken as a warning that Mr Xi will play succession politics by his own ruthless rules.

"Sun Zhengcai was a sacrificial object to send a message across the party," said Mr Wu Qiang, a current affairs writer and former political science lecturer at Tsinghua University in Beijing.

"Xi Jinping has signalled that he doesn't feel bound by the order of promotion set by the previous generation of leaders."

The party's terse public announcement said only that Mr Sun, 53, had been removed as party secretary of Chongqing. It gave no explanation and, ominously, said nothing about his future.

His replacement is Mr Chen Min'er, formerly the secretary of nearby Guizhou province and a protege of Mr Xi.

Mr Sun "was just the wrong guy in the wrong place", said Dr Joseph Fewsmith, a professor at Boston University who studies Chinese party politics.

"Chen Min'er seems like one of those people Xi is counting on to get things done."

Three people who are close to senior officials said that before Mr Sun was dismissed, he was put under investigation by the party.

Two of them said an internal party explanation of his removal did not specify allegations but said investigators had found "violations of discipline", a vague term that might mean political infractions or corruption.

If the inquiry leads to charges, Mr Sun will face punishment, or he may get a minor post or quiet retirement, if he survives the scrutiny.</s>The former Communist Party boss of the Chinese city of Chongqing, Sun Zhengcai, is under investigation for suspected serious violations of discipline, the official Xinhua news agency said on Monday.

BEIJING: The former Communist Party boss of the Chinese city of Chongqing, Sun Zhengcai, is under investigation for suspected serious violations of discipline, the official Xinhua news agency said on Monday.

Sun had been party chief of the southwestern megalopolis until an abrupt announcement earlier in July that he no longer had the position and had been replaced by a rising political star close to President Xi Jinping.</s>(CNN) Chinese President Xi Jinping has moved to further consolidate his power over the world's newest superpower, striking down a rising political star.

The ruling Communist Party's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection officially announced on Monday that 53-year-old Sun Zhengcai, former party secretary of the southwestern metropolis Chongqing, was under investigation for a "serious discipline violation " -- usually a euphemism for a corruption probe.

Former Guizhou party secretary Chen Min'er, a protege of Xi, was announced as his replacement earlier on July 15.

"His removal demonstrates Xi's solid grip on Chinese politics, particularly personnel arrangements, in the lead up to the 19th Party Congress in autumn," Willy Lam, adjunct professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong's Center for China Studies, told CNN.

Then-party secretary of Chongqing, Sun Zhengcai, attends a plenary session of China's National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing in March.

The party congress is expected to re-elect Xi for a second term as leader while announcing the new makeup of China's top decision making body -- the Politburo Standing Committee.

"According to party tradition, (Sun) would have been elevated to the Standing Committee," he said.

London-based consultant Trey McArver said in a report Sun had long been discussed as a possible frontrunner to replace Xi as general secretary and Chinese president in 2022.

"Sun's ouster is instead the latest sign that Xi will not be bound by rules or norms that predate his leadership ... anything could happen at the upcoming congress," he said.

"He is a powerful figure, he is the most powerful leader since (late paramount leader) Deng Xiaoping," Cheng Li, director at the Brookings Institution's John L. Thornton China Center, told CNN in April.

Sun was not considered part of Xi's power base and was seen as more of a technocrat, not affiliated with any major party faction, Lam said.

"I think one of the most important reasons for his downfall apart from these allegations of corruption was in the past five years, since Xi became leader, Sun has failed to demonstrate full allegiance to him," he said.

In comparison, his replacement Chen has long been a close ally of the Chinese president.

"Chen -- as head of the Zhejiang Propaganda Department -- helped Xi to craft his image when (he) ran Zhejiang from 2002 to 2007," McArver said.

Analysts say Chen is now expected to rise into the 25-man Politburo, one step below the Standing Committee, helping Xi's allies to build a majority inside the group.

Sun is the second Chongqing party secretary to be removed under investigation in the past decade.

He had been seen as a direct rival to Xi for the top spot.

Chongqing is one of China's largest cities, far from the political centers of Beijing and Shanghai and deep in the country's economic heartland.

For Chen, being given the opportunity to manage the provincial-level city of 36 million residents could seem both a blessing and a curse. But Lam said he had one big advantage over his two predecessors.

"His political identity and affiliation is very clear. He is a top protege of President Xi and so he of course has absorbed the lessons of his two predecessors ... (They failed) to align themselves with the powers that be," he said.
The Chinese Central Commission for Discipline Inspection announces that current Politburo member Sun Zhengcai is under investigation for violating party discipline. Sun is the fourth sitting Politburo member since 1990 to fall from power.