BEIJING, April 3 – A high-ranking member of China’s ruling Communist Party is facing investigation by the country’s anti-corruption agency over allegations of “serious violation of law and discipline,” according to official announcements made Friday.
Ma Xingrui, who holds a position on the powerful 24-member Politburo, represents the most recent senior official to be targeted in China’s ongoing campaign against government corruption.
The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection announced that Ma is currently subject to both disciplinary review and supervisory investigation. Ma also holds the role of deputy leader within the central rural work leading group.
Officials provided no specific information about the nature of the allegations against Ma.
This investigation comes just months after authorities launched a similar probe into Zhang Youxia, another Politburo member and the country’s highest-ranking military officer, in January. The Communist Party expelled He Weidong for corruption charges last year, bringing the Politburo membership down to 23. Both Ma and Zhang technically retain their positions while investigations continue.
Ma was last seen publicly during the Communist Party Central Committee’s Fourth Plenum gathering in late October. Since that time, he has been notably absent from state television coverage of major political events, including last month’s annual parliamentary session.
Authorities removed Ma from his role as Xinjiang party chief in July.
