Top Communist Party official in Chinese province under investigation in widening graft probe
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The head of a major Chinese province and former aide to disgraced official Zhou Yongkang has been placed under investigation as part of a widening probe into alleged corruption.
The party's anti-graft watchdog says Hebei province Communist Party head Zhou Benshun is suspected of "severe violations of discipline and the law." The term is a standard euphemism for corruption.
Zhou is the first serving head of a province to fall under President Xi Jinping's ongoing crackdown on corruption at all levels of government.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Zhou formerly held key positions in the central government Politics and Law Commission headed by Zhou Yongkang, a former member of the all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee who was sentenced to life in prison last month for bribery and corruption.