Probe after visit to US consulate
Source: Agencies |
February 10, 2012, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
Authorities are investigating an incident in which Chongqing Vice Mayor Wang Lijun entered a US consulate in southwest China and remained there for a day, the office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman said last night.
The office said Wang entered the consulate in the neighboring city of Chengdu on February 6.
Wang, a top police officer who was relieved of his duties in the southwestern city, met officials at the US consulate, the United States State Department confirmed.
Cui Tiankai, China's deputy foreign minister in charge of North American affairs, said yesterday that the case of the former police chief had been settled "in a fairly smooth manner," but he did not elaborate.
Cui was speaking at a briefing on Vice President Xi Jinping's trip to the US next week.
Wang, whose crackdown on criminal gangs in Chongqing inspired a drama on state TV but who was removed from his police post last week, has disappeared from public view.
Days of speculation about Wang culminated in online reports that he had sought asylum at the US consulate in Chengdu.
In Washington, US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland confirmed that Wang had sought a meeting at the consulate and later left "of his own volition."
She said that, to her knowledge, the consulate had not been in contact with Wang since the meeting.
Employees of businesses near the consulate reported large numbers of police vehicles in the area on Tuesday night, but said the area was quiet the next day.
Wang took leave to recover from anxiety and overwork, the city government of Chongqing said in a statement on Wednesday.
The 52-year-old martial arts expert entered law enforcement in 1984 and served in northeast Liaoning Province for more than 20 years. He won a reputation for bravery in confronting gangs and was the subject of TV drama "Iron-Blooded Police Spirits."
The Chongqing Daily yesterday heaped praise on the anti-crime crackdown.
"The evil criminals have been destroyed, the people are clapping and cheering. The fight against the evil forces has been fully affirmed by the superiors and the community," it said.
The office said Wang entered the consulate in the neighboring city of Chengdu on February 6.
Wang, a top police officer who was relieved of his duties in the southwestern city, met officials at the US consulate, the United States State Department confirmed.
Cui Tiankai, China's deputy foreign minister in charge of North American affairs, said yesterday that the case of the former police chief had been settled "in a fairly smooth manner," but he did not elaborate.
Cui was speaking at a briefing on Vice President Xi Jinping's trip to the US next week.
Wang, whose crackdown on criminal gangs in Chongqing inspired a drama on state TV but who was removed from his police post last week, has disappeared from public view.
Days of speculation about Wang culminated in online reports that he had sought asylum at the US consulate in Chengdu.
In Washington, US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland confirmed that Wang had sought a meeting at the consulate and later left "of his own volition."
She said that, to her knowledge, the consulate had not been in contact with Wang since the meeting.
Employees of businesses near the consulate reported large numbers of police vehicles in the area on Tuesday night, but said the area was quiet the next day.
Wang took leave to recover from anxiety and overwork, the city government of Chongqing said in a statement on Wednesday.
The 52-year-old martial arts expert entered law enforcement in 1984 and served in northeast Liaoning Province for more than 20 years. He won a reputation for bravery in confronting gangs and was the subject of TV drama "Iron-Blooded Police Spirits."
The Chongqing Daily yesterday heaped praise on the anti-crime crackdown.
"The evil criminals have been destroyed, the people are clapping and cheering. The fight against the evil forces has been fully affirmed by the superiors and the community," it said.
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