Yang Weize
Yang Weize | |
|---|---|
| Dương vệ trạch | |
 | |
| Communist Party SecretaryofNanjing | |
| In office March 2011 – 8 January 2015 | |
| Deputy | Ji Jianye(2011–2013) Miao Ruilin(2013–2015) |
| Preceded by | Zhu Shanlu |
| Succeeded by | Huang Lixin |
| Communist Party SecretaryofWuxi | |
| In office November 2004 – March 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Wang Rong |
| Succeeded by | Mao Xiaoping |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 1962 (age 61) Nantong,Jiangsu,China[1] |
| Political party | Chinese Communist Party(1988–2015, expelled) |
Yang Weize(simplified Chinese:Dương vệ trạch;traditional Chinese:Dương vệ trạch;pinyin:Yáng Wèizé;born October 1962) is a former Chinese politician. He was theCommunist Party SecretaryofNanjing,capital ofJiangsuProvince, from 2011 to 2015. Prior to that, he served as the party secretary in the neighbouring city ofWuxifor seven years, and before that the Mayor ofSuzhou.In 2015, Yang was put under investigation for corruption by theCentral Commission for Discipline Inspection.He was tried and convicted on corruption charges and sentenced to twelve years and six months in prison in December 2016.[2]
Career
[edit]Yang was born inNantong,Jiangsu province in August 1962. Hetraces his ancestryto theChangzhouarea. His father was a hospital administrator in the city of Nantong. Yang went to college at the Nanjing Marine Engineering Institute (Nam kinh hàng vụ công trình chuyên khoa học giáo), where he studied marine and seaport engineering. He began working in the Jiangsu provincial transportation department in August 1981. In 1998, he became the provincial director of transportation. The next year, he was transferred to becomeDeputy Party SecretaryofSuzhou,and later Mayor. In 2004, Yang became the party secretary ofWuxi,becoming first-in-charge of the southern Jiangsu city. By 2006, at age 44, he had earned a seat on the provincialParty Standing Committee.
According to theBeijing Youth Daily,[3]during Yang's term in Suzhou, he reportedly maintained close relations with the family ofZhou Yongkang,a former member of the powerfulPolitburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party,who was a native of the region. Yang was said to have received praise from Zhou for his work in controlling the razing of local residential neighbourhoods near Zhou's hometown.[4]In 2011, he became the Party Secretary of the provincial capital Nanjing.[5]Chinese language media have suggested that Yang was once subject to a formal disciplinary complaint by Gao Dezheng (Cao đức chính), former executive Vice Governor of Jiangsu and the father-in-law ofJi Jianye;Ji was Mayor of Nanjing during Yang's term as the city's party boss. As the city's two most prominent political leaders, Ji and Yang had an uneasy, often hostile relationship. Yang publicly criticized Ji over a rainwater diversion construction project in Nanjing led by the mayor. Ji was abruptly removed from his office of mayor (Shuanggui) in December 2013 to face a corruption investigation.[3]
Yang also served as the president of the organizing committee of the2014 Summer Youth Olympics,spearheading a strategy of using temporary venues for competition and spending frugally. Yang said, "No new venues will be built if old ones can be renovated, No new facilities will be purchased if old ones can be repaired, no equipment will be bought if (it) can be rented, and they won't be rented if they can be borrowed," echoing a famous phrase used by former PresidentLiu Shaoqi.[6]
Yang was an alternate member of the18th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.
Investigation
[edit]After the dismissal of Ji Jianye, rumours about Yang himself being "in trouble" began circulating in late 2013. For much of 2014, Yang executed the party's anti-corruption and "mass line"campaigns with great fervour in Nanjing, ostensibly as a display of loyalty to the newparty leadershipunderCCP general secretaryXi Jinping.In addition, in preparation for the2014 Summer Youth Olympicsin Nanjing, Yang called upon the city to embrace the slogan, "work hard for one hundred days, clean up the environment."[7]Between April and August, various "clean-up" initiatives took place across the city. During this time, Yang was said to have visited all the sporting venues and surrounding areas to ensure that work was being completed as planned. The "one hundred day clean-up" campaign earned Yang praise from local residents.[7]In May, Yang said that Nanjing was open to the idea of hosting the2019 Asian Gamesafter organizers from Vietnam withdrew from hosting the event.[7]
"Getting rid ofJi Jianyeis like conducting surgery to remove a tumour. It might hurt in the short term but in the long run, the body will recover. "
—Yang Weize, shortly after former Mayor Ji Jianye was detained for investigation.[8]
In July 2014, state media announced the investigation into China's former security chief and Wuxi-area native Zhou Yongkang. In September 2014, Yang's friend and colleague Feng Yajun (Phùng á quân), then serving as the district party secretary ofJianye Districtand a member of the NanjingParty Standing Committee,was detained for investigation. Several days later, Lou Xuequan (Lâu học toàn), former party secretary ofLuhe Districtof Nanjing, committed suicide in his home.[7]On December 13, the "National Commemoration Ceremony" for theNanking Massacretook place in the city, attended by CCP general secretaryXi Jinping.Yang did not accompany Xi's subsequent visit to the Zhenjiang and Nanjing area.[7]After the Commemoration Ceremony, Yang maintained an extremely low-profile, showing reluctance even when signing routine documents and pushing most work onto MayorMiao Ruilin.On January 1, 2015, Yang took part in along-distance runningrace to ring in the new year at theNanjing City Wall.Those who attended the race reported that Yang looked extremely stressed and uneasy.[7]
On January 4, 2015, Yang was detained by officials from theCentral Commission for Discipline Inspection,the Party's internal anti-graft agency, on "suspected serious violations of displinary and law".[9]His wife and deputy chief of staff was also reported to have been detained on the same day.[10] Yang was chairing a "democratic life meeting"when he was informed by an assistant that his presence was immediately required at the provincial party headquarters. Yang promptly adjourned the meeting and made his way there.[10]According to a Jiangsu party disciplinary official, upon realizing he was being apprehended by party disciplinary personnel, Yang attempted to kill himself by jumping out of a window at the provincial party headquarters but was ultimately restrained from doing so.[11]
Expulsion and Sentencing
[edit]Following an investigation by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, on July 31, 2015, Yang was expelled from theChinese Communist Party.In an official statement, the CCDI accused Yang of "gravely violating organizational discipline, hiding personal information [from the authorities], accepting cash gifts, seeking gain for others using the convenience of his office [...] violating theEight-point Regulation,frequenting high-end hotels and private clubs, accepting banquet invitations from others; using the convenience of his office to seek promotion or further business interests of others, and taking huge bribes. "Of these offenses cited, most were merely violations of party discipline; however, bribery constituted a crime. Yang's case was forwarded to judicial authorities for prosecution.[12]
On December 14, 2016, Yang Weize was sentenced for 12 years and 6 months in prison, having been convicted on charges of bribery by theNingboPeople's Intermediate Court. Two million yuan of personal assets were seized, and all of his earnings deemed to have come from corrupt sources were confiscated by the national treasury. The total value of bribes recorded by the court was 16.43 million yuan.[13]
References
[edit]- ^"Nam kinh lạc mã thư ký dương vệ trạch vãng sự: Bá chiêm thu tàng cơ cấu từ hoa bình".Sohu. January 12, 2015.RetrievedJanuary 12,2015.
Dương vệ trạch tổ tịch thường châu, đãn khước xuất sinh vu nam thông nhất cá hương trấn tịnh tại na lí trường đại……(Yang Weize's ancestral home is Changzhou, but he was born and raised in a town of Nantong...)
- ^Zuo, Mandy (January 5, 2015)."State media speculate on detention of Nanjing Communist Party boss in corruption probe".South China Morning Times.
- ^ab"Phàn phụ chu vĩnh khang tố kháo sơn tại công trình kiến thiết trung vi thân chúc mưu lợi dữ đáp đương thị trường nội đấu tại truyện ngôn trung lạc mã đích thị ủy thư ký"(in Chinese). Bắc kinh thanh niên báo. 2015-01-06.
- ^"Nam kinh thị ủy thư ký dương vệ trạch khai niên bị tra tằng hữu thật danh cử báo".Caixin. 2015-01-05.
- ^"Dương vệ trạch phóng vấn dĩ sắc liệt" nam kinh nhật "Hoạt động thành công cử hành".People.cn.Retrieved2012-06-07.
- ^"China to go cheap on 2014 Youth Olympics".Reuters.August 31, 2012.
- ^abcdef"Dương vệ trạch tằng tại dân chủ sinh hoạt hội trung 3 thứ đả hồi quý kiến nghiệp tự ngã phê bình".The Beijing News. January 8, 2014.
- ^Original quote in Chinese: "Khai trừ quý kiến nghiệp tựu tượng nhất đài thiết trừ thũng lựu đích thủ thuật, tuy nhiên hội đông, đãn tối chung hội sử thân thể khang phục.". Retrieved fromThe Beijing News,the quote was attributed toThe Guardian.
- ^"Giang tô tỉnh ủy thường ủy, nam kinh thị ủy thư ký dương vệ trạch thiệp hiềm nghiêm trọng vi kỷ vi pháp tiếp thụ tổ chức điều tra".Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.Retrieved2015-01-04.
- ^ab"Dương vệ trạch bị đái tẩu tế tiết: Hội trung bị thông tri khứ tỉnh ủy thê tử bí thư quân bị tra".China Daily.January 5, 2014.
- ^"Dương vệ trạch bị trung kỷ ủy đái tẩu tiền tằng bào hướng song hộ dục khiêu lâu bị ấn trụ".Sina. January 26, 2015.
- ^"Nam kinh thị ủy nguyên thư ký dương vệ trạch, vân nam nguyên phó thư ký cừu hòa bị song khai".Chinanews.July 31, 2015.
- ^"Thụ hối 1643 vạn dư nguyên nam kinh thị ủy nguyên thư ký dương vệ trạch hoạch hình 12 niên bán".Netease. 2016-12-15.Retrieved2016-12-15.