Wang Lijun Probe Could Mean Bleak Future for Bo Xilai

Chongqing Communist Party Secretary Bo Xilai appeared at ease during a meeting with the Canadian Prime Minister on Saturday. But a political storm may be brewing for Bo, who is the top official in Chongqing, a provincial-level city in southwest China. Bo had long-hoped to enter the top ranks of the Communist Party. But China analyst Zhang Tianliang says that dream is over.

[Professor Zhang Tianliang, Senior China Analyst]:
“Bo Xilai can never make it to the Standing Committee of the Politburo. That’s for sure.”

Bo's former right-hand man Wang Lijun is now being investigated, and is likely to turn in evidence against Bo.

Wang is the deputy mayor and former police chief of Chongqing. He made headlines last week when he went into the US consulate in Chengdu, a city four hours away from Chongqing.

Chinese media reported that Bo Xilai dispatched dozens of police cars to intercept Wang in Chengdu.

[Professor Zhang Tianliang, Senior China Analyst]:
“When 70 police vehicles from Chongqing surrounded the US consulate, we know that Bo Xilai was very afraid that something will happen. He really wanted to hijack Wang Lijun back to Chongqing.”

Instead, Wang Lijun left the US consulate with state security officials. A passenger list circulating online shows that Wang flew to Beijing with three security officials from two different ministries.

[Professor Tianliang Zhang, China Analyst]:
“We can see officials from state security ministry came to Chengdu and took Wang Lijun away, it means that they also believe that if Wang Lijun went back to Chongqing he’s in great danger. He may be killed. So, that’s why we know that Wang Lijun must have known a lot about Bo Xilai, and Bo Xilai is very afraid of the evidence that Wang Lijun may provide.”

The pair had worked closely on campaigns to crack down on organized crime in Chongqing. But their campaigns have drawn concern over possible illegality and corruption. Bo and Wang are alleged to have used torture to extract confessions from suspects, and to have used the crackdown to persecute political opponents.

Now with his right-hand man under investigation, and poised to provide evidence against him, Bo is facing a tough time ahead. And Professor Zhang says the order to get rid of Bo may be coming from the top leader of the Communist Party, Hu Jintao.

[Professor Tianliang Zhang, China Analyst]:
“I think that Bo is in very big trouble. If you look at the Chinese communist history, if you look at the history of this communist regime you know that when the top leader wanted to remove someone he's always starting from his assistant… Now, when Bo Xilai’s assistant Wang Lijun is interrogated or investigated, Bo Xilai knows that Hu Jintao has already made his decision.”