Controversial senior Yunnan official under probe

Qiu He, deputy head of the Yunnan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, is investigated. [Photo/IC]

Qiu He was known for imposing heavy-handed policies regarding work style and infrastructure

A once-controversial leader of Southwest China's Yunnan province has become the latest target of the anti-graft campaign, the top discipline watchdog said on Sunday.

Qiu He, deputy head of the Yunnan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, is now being investigated on suspicion of seriously violating Party discipline and national laws, according to a statement published by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

The statement did not give more details about Qiu's investigation, but Chinese media quoted sources close to anti-corruption agencies as reporting that he is suspected of being involved in corruption in urban development.

He was reported to have been taken from a hotel in Beijing by anti-corruption inspectors after attending the final meeting of the annual session of the National People's Congress on Sunday morning.

Xu Jianyi, chairman of major Chinese automaker FAW Group, has also been put under investigation, the top anti-graft body said on Sunday.

Xu, who is Party chief of the group, is suspected of seriously violating discipline and breaking the law.

The move echoed the latest anti-corruption pledge that Premier Li Keqiang made at his annual news conference, also on Sunday morning.

Li said the Party and the Chinese government are committed to combating corruption and upholding integrity and that the administrative reform will be deepened to uproot the "breathing space for corruption".