Former Liaison Office official facing corruption probe

Cui Guochao, a former official at the Chinese liaison office in Macau, is under investigation for alleged corruption as part of an intensified anti-corruption campaign in Guangdong province.

The Guangdong provincial disciplinary commission announced earlier that Cui is “suspected of serious violations of discipline and law,” a term commonly used in China to denote corruption.

Cui, 70, served as the secretary-general of the liaison office from 2006 to 2014. His career also includes a significant tenure as party chief in Zhongshan from 1996 to 2006. The focus of the investigation remains unclear, raising questions about potential links to his previous roles in both Zhongshan and Macau.

This inquiry is part of a broader crackdown on retired officials in Guangdong. Recently, Xu Jianhua, former party secretary of Dongguan, was detained on corruption charges, joining a list that includes Zhong Ganquan and Li Yuquan, both previously high-ranking officials in the region.

The Chinese Central Commission for Discipline Inspection has emphasized its commitment to combating corruption among all cadres, stating that “any cadre involved in corruption and power abuse for personal gain will find no peace.” Reports indicate that over 50 retired officials have been detained in Guangdong since last year.

In a related development, investigations into departmental officials have surged, with 109 department-level and 1,321 division-level officials scrutinized in the first three quarters of 2024 alone, reflecting a nearly 50% increase from the previous year, as reported by the South China Morning Post. Nadia Shaw