Helicopter chases, fridges full of cash and officials caught in bed with their foreign mistresses are all in a day&#39;s work for China&#39;s anti-graft prosecutors, according to a new state-backed TV drama aimed at bolstering China&#39;s graft fight.

&quot;In the Name of the People&quot;, a new show by propaganda department of the Supreme People&#39;s Procuratorate (SPP), China&#39;s top prosecutor, follows an intrepid SPP anti-graft investigator sent to a fictional province from Beijing to tackle corruption at the highest levels of local officialdom.

Chinese President Xi Jinping&nbsp;has pledged that his multi-year war on graft, which has netted tens of thousands of officials, will continue until corruption is fully expunged, warning that the rot could threaten the ruling Communist Party&#39;s existence if not cleared.

But academics have raised doubts about the campaign&#39;s durability as Xi enters his second term after a leadership reshuffle later this year, arguing that resentment in the Party is likely to build if anti-graft measures continue at their current scope and intensity.

In the last year, the campaign has twice made it onto popular television, in the two mini-documentary series made by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), China&#39;s top anti-graft body.

The TV-drama version of events, the first of its kind since the campaign began, shows the prosecutor leading an investigation that includes abseiling policemen and raids of official apartments where they uncover mattresses made from stacks of hundred yuan notes, according to the official advert.

The show will premiere on March 28 on Hunan Television, China&#39;s second most watched channel.

A famous Chinese novelist, Zhou Meisen, wrote the screenplay, as well as a novel of the same name published in January, with support from the SPP which allowed him to interview corrupt officials in jail.

&quot;As the struggle against corruption comes up against an even greater mission and demand, we must push anti-corruption works to their highest peak, the sky is the limit,&quot; Zhou told the official Beijing Daily in an interview published on Wednesday.

On Friday, the official Chinese People&#39;s Publishing House unveiled an 11 volume series charting China&#39;s fight against corruption over the past two millennia.

&quot;We started doing this more than 2,000 years ago,&quot; said Li Yongzhong, former head of the CCDI&#39;s College of Supervision.

The SPP&#39;s anti-graft bureau behind the TV drama is one of many graft-fighting bodies expected to be incorporated into a powerful new National Supervisory Commission, slated for next year, as China makes sweeping changes to its anti-corruption architecture designed to institutionalise the graft fight.

The new commission is expected to pave the way for Xi to retain his key ally and top graft-buster Wang Qishan with the CCDI playing the central role in creating the commission.

(Reuters)

China's propaganda department created an exciting show about fighting corruption as the president himself takes on government corruption

Helicopter chases, fridges full of cash and officials caught in bed with their foreign mistresses are all in a day's work for China's anti-graft prosecutors, according to a new state-backed TV drama aimed at bolstering China's graft fight. "In the Name of the People", a new show by propaganda department of the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP), China's top prosecutor, follows an intrepid SPP anti-graft investigator sent to a fictional province from Beijing to tackle corruption at the highest levels of local officialdom. Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged that his multi-year war on graft, which has netted tens of thousands of officials, will continue until corruption is fully expunged, warning that the rot could threaten the ruling Communist Party's existence if not cleared. But academics have raised doubts about the campaign's durability as Xi enters his second term after a leadership reshuffle later this year, arguing that resentment in the Party is likely to build if anti-graft measures continue at their current scope and intensity. In the last year, the campaign has twice made it onto popular television, in the two mini-documentary series made by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), China's top anti-graft body. The TV-drama version of events, the first of its kind since the campaign began, shows the prosecutor leading an investigation that includes abseiling policemen and raids of official apartments where they uncover mattresses made from stacks of hundred yuan notes, according to the official advert. The show will premiere on March 28 on Hunan Television, China's second most watched channel. A famous Chinese novelist, Zhou Meisen, wrote the screenplay, as well as a novel of the same name published in January, with support from the SPP which allowed him to interview corrupt officials in jail. "As the struggle against corruption comes up against an even greater mission and demand, we must push anti-corruption works to their highest peak, the sky is the limit," Zhou told the official Beijing Daily in an interview published on Wednesday. On Friday, the official Chinese People's Publishing House unveiled an 11 volume series charting China's fight against corruption over the past two millennia. "We started doing this more than 2,000 years ago," said Li Yongzhong, former head of the CCDI's College of Supervision. The SPP's anti-graft bureau behind the TV drama is one of many graft-fighting bodies expected to be incorporated into a powerful new National Supervisory Commission, slated for next year, as China makes sweeping changes to its anti-corruption architecture designed to institutionalise the graft fight. The new commission is expected to pave the way for Xi to retain his key ally and top graft-buster Wang Qishan with the CCDI playing the central role in creating the commission. (Reuters)

Adrenalin-fuelled TV drama to spur on China's war on graft

As China moves closer to realise its goal of setting up its own permanent space station by 2022, &nbsp;the country is all set to launch a manned space mission on Monday, state-owned Xinhua agency reported.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The Shenzhou-11 spacecraft will be carrying astronauts Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong and will take off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi desert, AFP quoted the agency saying. &nbsp;Shenzhou 11 will be the third space mission for Jing, who will command the mission and pass his 50th birthday in space.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

In the month-long mission, the astronauts will dock on China&#39;s second experimental lab orbiting the earth to carry out testing systems and processes for to and refueling. They will also conduct experiments related to aerospace medicine, space physics and biology, atomic space cloaks and solar storm research.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;This mission is characterised by its longer duration and more tests,&quot; Chen Dong, the junior astronaut on the mission, told reporters in a televised news conference. &quot;We will focus on improving our ability to handle emergencies in orbit, medical first aid, mutual rescue capabilities and space experiments.&quot;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The Shenzhou-11 spaceship will return to Earth within a day after docking the two astronauts on Tiangong-2 space lab and separating from it, Wu Ping, Deputy Director of China&#39;s manned space engineering office, was quoted as &nbsp;saying in media reports.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Wu Ping told reporters: &quot;The astronaut flight group is in good condition, pre-launch preparations are basically ready,&quot; Reuters quoted him saying.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Jing, 50, will be commanding the mission and has been to space twice. The spacecraft, whose name translates as &quot;Divine Vessel&quot;, will also carry three experiments designed by Hong Kong middle school students and selected in a science competition, including one that will take silk worms into space, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

China is investing billions into its space programme in order to reach the US and Europe&#39;s advanced space programmes. &nbsp;President Xi Jinping has called for China to establish itself as a space power, and it has tested anti-satellite missiles, in addition to its civilian aims, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

While Beijing says its space program is for peaceful purposes, the US Defense Department has highlighted its increasing capabilities, saying it was pursuing activities aimed to prevent adversaries from using space-based assets in a crisis.

 
&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from agencies)

Shenzhou-11 spacecraft will be carrying astronauts Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong for a month-long space mission

As China moves closer to realise its goal of setting up its own permanent space station by 2022, the country is all set to launch a manned space mission on Monday, state-owned Xinhua agency reported. The Shenzhou-11 spacecraft will be carrying astronauts Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong and will take off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi desert, AFP quoted the agency saying. Shenzhou 11 will be the third space mission for Jing, who will command the mission and pass his 50th birthday in space. In the month-long mission, the astronauts will dock on China's second experimental lab orbiting the earth to carry out testing systems and processes for to and refueling. They will also conduct experiments related to aerospace medicine, space physics and biology, atomic space cloaks and solar storm research. "This mission is characterised by its longer duration and more tests," Chen Dong, the junior astronaut on the mission, told reporters in a televised news conference. "We will focus on improving our ability to handle emergencies in orbit, medical first aid, mutual rescue capabilities and space experiments." The Shenzhou-11 spaceship will return to Earth within a day after docking the two astronauts on Tiangong-2 space lab and separating from it, Wu Ping, Deputy Director of China's manned space engineering office, was quoted as saying in media reports. Wu Ping told reporters: "The astronaut flight group is in good condition, pre-launch preparations are basically ready," Reuters quoted him saying. Jing, 50, will be commanding the mission and has been to space twice. The spacecraft, whose name translates as "Divine Vessel", will also carry three experiments designed by Hong Kong middle school students and selected in a science competition, including one that will take silk worms into space, Reuters reported. China is investing billions into its space programme in order to reach the US and Europe's advanced space programmes. President Xi Jinping has called for China to establish itself as a space power, and it has tested anti-satellite missiles, in addition to its civilian aims, Reuters reported. While Beijing says its space program is for peaceful purposes, the US Defense Department has highlighted its increasing capabilities, saying it was pursuing activities aimed to prevent adversaries from using space-based assets in a crisis. (WION with inputs from agencies)

China to launch manned spacecraft

Party members, especially those in leadership roles, need to ensure they keep their family members on tight leash to prevent corruption, the official newspaper of China&#39;s ruling Communist Party said today after a high-profile jailing. 
 
A Chinese court on Monday jailed a former top aide to retired president Hu Jintao for life after finding him guilty of taking bribes, illegally obtaining state secrets and abuse of power during a secret trial. 
 
The party announced its investigation into the one-time aide to Hu, Ling Jihua, in December 2014. Ling had been demoted in September 2012 from a ministerial-level job, months after his son was killed in a crash involving a luxury sports car. 
 
His deceased son was implicated in bribery allegations mentioned during the trial, while Ling&#39;s wife testified against him. 
 
In a front page editorial, the People&#39;s Daily said Ling&#39;s jailing showed once again that all are equal in front of the law and that no matter who you are if you break the law you will be punished. 
 
&quot;All party comrades, especially cadres who are leaders, must deeply learn the lessons of Ling Jihua&#39;s criminal case,&quot; it said. 
 
&quot;Strictly abide by party discipline and rules, strictly keep under control family members and those who work by your side,&quot; the paper added. 
 
The fight against corruption has been a key policy plank of President Xi Jinping&#39;s first term in office, with dozens of senior officials jailed in his purge. 
 
Xi warned last week though that graft remained the biggest threat to the party. 
 
The People&#39;s Daily said that a party which is clear about clean governance and following the rules will always keep its winning position. 
 
&quot;Those who have power will be supervised, to ensure that the power given to them by the party and the people is used to benefit the people,&quot; it added. 
 
Ling&#39;s case had presented a dilemma for the government, because of his close connection with former president Hu, Xi&#39;s predecessor. 
 
A government spokesman denied last year that Hu was being implicated in the investigation and sources said that Hu approved of the case against Ling. 
 
(Reuters)

Former top aide of Hu Jintao was held guilty of taking bribe, illegally obtaining state secrets and abuse of power. He was sentenced to jail

Party members, especially those in leadership roles, need to ensure they keep their family members on tight leash to prevent corruption, the official newspaper of China's ruling Communist Party said today after a high-profile jailing. A Chinese court on Monday jailed a former top aide to retired president Hu Jintao for life after finding him guilty of taking bribes, illegally obtaining state secrets and abuse of power during a secret trial. The party announced its investigation into the one-time aide to Hu, Ling Jihua, in December 2014. Ling had been demoted in September 2012 from a ministerial-level job, months after his son was killed in a crash involving a luxury sports car. His deceased son was implicated in bribery allegations mentioned during the trial, while Ling's wife testified against him. In a front page editorial, the People's Daily said Ling's jailing showed once again that all are equal in front of the law and that no matter who you are if you break the law you will be punished. "All party comrades, especially cadres who are leaders, must deeply learn the lessons of Ling Jihua's criminal case," it said. "Strictly abide by party discipline and rules, strictly keep under control family members and those who work by your side," the paper added. The fight against corruption has been a key policy plank of President Xi Jinping's first term in office, with dozens of senior officials jailed in his purge. Xi warned last week though that graft remained the biggest threat to the party. The People's Daily said that a party which is clear about clean governance and following the rules will always keep its winning position. "Those who have power will be supervised, to ensure that the power given to them by the party and the people is used to benefit the people," it added. Ling's case had presented a dilemma for the government, because of his close connection with former president Hu, Xi's predecessor. A government spokesman denied last year that Hu was being implicated in the investigation and sources said that Hu approved of the case against Ling. (Reuters)

Corruption will not be tolerated, China warns its leaders

An ex-aide of former Chinese President Hu Jintao has been jailed for life for corruption, illegally obtaining state secrets and abuse of power, official media reported Monday. 
 
Ling Jihua pleaded guilty and said he would not appeal, Xinhua news agency said, citing the verdict of the First Intermediate People&#39;s Court in Tianjin, which held his trial in secret last month. 
 
Verdict and sentence come as part of a high-profile crackdown&nbsp; 
 
The verdict and sentence come as part of a high-profile crackdown on graft by current President Xi Jinping that has deposed several senior officials, notably former security chief Zhou Yongkang, who was himself jailed for life last year. 
 
Critics, however, say that a lack of transparency around the crackdown means it has been an opportunity for Xi to eliminate political enemies. 
 
&quot;The trial today is engraved on my bones and in my heart,&quot; it quoted Ling as saying in his final statement to the court. 
 
The chief judge carried out his duties &quot;fairly and lawfully&quot;, he added, and the proceedings were &quot;solemn, meticulous, rational and civilised&quot;. 
 
It may be noted Chinese courts are controlled by the ruling Communist party, which expelled Ling -- once Hu&#39;s chief of staff -- from its ranks last year. 
 
Further, it may also be pertinent to mention Ling&#39;s son died in a notorious Ferrari crash in Beijing which disrupted the once-in-a-decade party leadership change when Xi took over from Hu in 2012. 
 
Ling had powerbases in the northern province of Shanxi and the Communist Youth League -- seen as a proving ground for politicians who, unlike Xi, do not benefit from family links to high-ranking revolutionaries. 
 
One of his brothers, Ling Zhengce, a senior official in Shanxi, was put under investigation in 2014 for serious violations of &quot;discipline and the law&quot; -- a euphemism for corruption -- and expelled from the party last year. 
 
Another brother, Ling Wancheng, has fled to the United States, a Chinese anti-graft official confirmed in January, adding Beijing was &quot;in touch&quot; with Washington about his case. 
 
His exile has led to speculation in overseas Chinese media that Ling Jihua had given him top state secrets, including the launch codes for China&#39;s nuclear weapons, to secure some leverage in negotiations with Beijing over his case. 
 
&#39;It was a relatively lenient sentence&#39; 
 
Under Chinese law, the death penalty is available for corruption cases, but Xinhua said Ling was given a reduced sentence for having &quot;faithfully&quot; confessed to his crimes and being penitent for his actions. 
 
It was &quot;a relatively lenient sentence&quot;, Willy Lam of the Chinese University of Hong Kong told AFP. &quot;It&#39;s possible Ling drove a bargain with authorities.&quot; 
 
His former boss Hu was probably safe, Lam added, saying that the former president &quot;made a wise decision by refusing to support Ling&quot;. 
 
But other Hu proteges &quot;may now be blocked from promotion&quot;, he said, as Xi consolidates his power over the government. 
 
Graft is endemic in China&#39;s authoritarian system 
 
The Ferrari crash scandalised China despite a mainland media blackout -- partly because two young women, one nude and one partially clothed, were also injured in the crash, with one reportedly dying months later. 
 
Internet users questioned how the son of a party official could afford a car worth a reported five million yuan. 
 
The politician, his wife and son received bribes worth a total of 77.1 million yuan ($11.6 million), Xinhua said. 
 
The court found that the bribes Ling took were &quot;exceptionally enormous&quot; and &quot;the criminal circumstances&quot; under which he obtained state secrets were severe, said the report. 
 
His abuse of power caused &quot;huge losses to public property and the interests of the state and the people&quot; and had &quot;especially vile social impact&quot;, it said. 
 
When Ling was charged the country&#39;s national prosecuting authority said he &quot;abused his power&quot; as director of the General Office of the Communist Party&#39;s Central Committee, where he worked under Hu. 
 
In several party leadership posts, he &quot;illegally received large amounts of property and obtained state secrets&quot;, it added. 
 
Graft is endemic in China&#39;s authoritarian system, and Xi has acknowledged it as a threat to the ruling party&#39;s survival. 
 
(AFP)&nbsp;

Lack of transparency around the crackdown could mean an opportunity for President Xi Jinping to eliminate political enemies, say critics

An ex-aide of former Chinese President Hu Jintao has been jailed for life for corruption, illegally obtaining state secrets and abuse of power, official media reported Monday. Ling Jihua pleaded guilty and said he would not appeal, Xinhua news agency said, citing the verdict of the First Intermediate People's Court in Tianjin, which held his trial in secret last month. Verdict and sentence come as part of a high-profile crackdown The verdict and sentence come as part of a high-profile crackdown on graft by current President Xi Jinping that has deposed several senior officials, notably former security chief Zhou Yongkang, who was himself jailed for life last year. Critics, however, say that a lack of transparency around the crackdown means it has been an opportunity for Xi to eliminate political enemies. "The trial today is engraved on my bones and in my heart," it quoted Ling as saying in his final statement to the court. The chief judge carried out his duties "fairly and lawfully", he added, and the proceedings were "solemn, meticulous, rational and civilised". It may be noted Chinese courts are controlled by the ruling Communist party, which expelled Ling -- once Hu's chief of staff -- from its ranks last year. Further, it may also be pertinent to mention Ling's son died in a notorious Ferrari crash in Beijing which disrupted the once-in-a-decade party leadership change when Xi took over from Hu in 2012. Ling had powerbases in the northern province of Shanxi and the Communist Youth League -- seen as a proving ground for politicians who, unlike Xi, do not benefit from family links to high-ranking revolutionaries. One of his brothers, Ling Zhengce, a senior official in Shanxi, was put under investigation in 2014 for serious violations of "discipline and the law" -- a euphemism for corruption -- and expelled from the party last year. Another brother, Ling Wancheng, has fled to the United States, a Chinese anti-graft official confirmed in January, adding Beijing was "in touch" with Washington about his case. His exile has led to speculation in overseas Chinese media that Ling Jihua had given him top state secrets, including the launch codes for China's nuclear weapons, to secure some leverage in negotiations with Beijing over his case. 'It was a relatively lenient sentence' Under Chinese law, the death penalty is available for corruption cases, but Xinhua said Ling was given a reduced sentence for having "faithfully" confessed to his crimes and being penitent for his actions. It was "a relatively lenient sentence", Willy Lam of the Chinese University of Hong Kong told AFP. "It's possible Ling drove a bargain with authorities." His former boss Hu was probably safe, Lam added, saying that the former president "made a wise decision by refusing to support Ling". But other Hu proteges "may now be blocked from promotion", he said, as Xi consolidates his power over the government. Graft is endemic in China's authoritarian system The Ferrari crash scandalised China despite a mainland media blackout -- partly because two young women, one nude and one partially clothed, were also injured in the crash, with one reportedly dying months later. Internet users questioned how the son of a party official could afford a car worth a reported five million yuan. The politician, his wife and son received bribes worth a total of 77.1 million yuan ($11.6 million), Xinhua said. The court found that the bribes Ling took were "exceptionally enormous" and "the criminal circumstances" under which he obtained state secrets were severe, said the report. His abuse of power caused "huge losses to public property and the interests of the state and the people" and had "especially vile social impact", it said. When Ling was charged the country's national prosecuting authority said he "abused his power" as director of the General Office of the Communist Party's Central Committee, where he worked under Hu. In several party leadership posts, he "illegally received large amounts of property and obtained state secrets", it added. Graft is endemic in China's authoritarian system, and Xi has acknowledged it as a threat to the ruling party's survival. (AFP)

Ex-Chinese President's close aide gets lifer over graft charges

On the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit (SCO), Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Tashkent on Thursday.&nbsp; 
 
President Xi welcomed India&rsquo;s accession to the SCO and said that India&#39;s induction into the elite body would strengthen it; PM Modi thanked President Xi for China&rsquo;s support of India&rsquo;s membership of the SCO.&nbsp; 
 
Modi then spoke of the Nuclear Suppliers` Group (NSG) plenary meeting in Seoul which is reportedly discussing India&rsquo;s membership of the NSG. He also urged China to make a fair and objective assessment of India&rsquo;s application and judge it on its own merit. He further said China should contribute to the emerging consensus in Seoul.&nbsp; 
 
Pertinently, the meeting of the two-day 26th Plenary of the NSG top body heads of delegation discussion, continues here on Friday to discuss India`s application for membership to the elite club. 
 
Highly placed sources have told ANI that China is not the sole opponent to India`s membership to the NSG, but Brazil, Austria, Ireland, Turkey and New Zealand too have opposed India`s entry, citing it`s not being a signatory of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) for nuclear weapons and weapons technology. Mexico, however, backed India&rsquo;s membership. 
 
Sources further said the meet also did not discuss the induction of Pakistan into the elite group.&nbsp; 
 
(Agencies)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

President Xi welcomed India?s accession to the SCO and said that India's induction into the elite body would strengthen it

On the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit (SCO), Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Tashkent on Thursday. President Xi welcomed India’s accession to the SCO and said that India's induction into the elite body would strengthen it; PM Modi thanked President Xi for China’s support of India’s membership of the SCO. Modi then spoke of the Nuclear Suppliers` Group (NSG) plenary meeting in Seoul which is reportedly discussing India’s membership of the NSG. He also urged China to make a fair and objective assessment of India’s application and judge it on its own merit. He further said China should contribute to the emerging consensus in Seoul. Pertinently, the meeting of the two-day 26th Plenary of the NSG top body heads of delegation discussion, continues here on Friday to discuss India`s application for membership to the elite club. Highly placed sources have told ANI that China is not the sole opponent to India`s membership to the NSG, but Brazil, Austria, Ireland, Turkey and New Zealand too have opposed India`s entry, citing it`s not being a signatory of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) for nuclear weapons and weapons technology. Mexico, however, backed India’s membership. Sources further said the meet also did not discuss the induction of Pakistan into the elite group. (Agencies)

Modi meets Jinping, urges China to fairly asses India's NSG bid