Top Sichuan official removed over suspected corruption

A top Communist Party leader in Sichuan province has been sacked on suspicions of corruption, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing state-run Xinhua News Agency. Central officials removed Li Chuncheng from his post as the deputy party chief of Sichuan on allegations of “serious discipline violations,” state media reported. The move came after earlier domestic media reports that Li was the subject of a corruption investigation. Though no details were announced, state media reports indicate that Li was involved in a series of abuses, including selling lower-level party posts. The party’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection detained Li on December 2, party-controlled Legal Weekly said. Li’s sacking is the highest level corruption scandal since Xi Jinping assumed the role of China’s party secretary last month.