China’s Ongoing Crackdown on Graft Ensnares Top Telecommunications Official

The chairman of the state-owned China Telecom is being investigated for a “suspected of serious violation of discipline” — a coded phrase implying corruption — the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, China’s main antigraft monitor, said Sunday.

Chinese media outlets reported Chang Xiaobing as “missing” on Sunday, according to Reuters.

The Hong Kong–based newspaper South China Morning Post said Chang was being investigated for alleged graft when he was the chairman of another state-owned telecommunications enterprise, China Unicom, which he left in August to take over China Telecom.

Chang declared earnings of less than $1,200 per month after tax at China’s National People’s Congress in March, according to the Post.

China has renewed efforts to crack down on corruption among state-run companies since November of 2014.

According to Reuters, over 70 high-profile officials have been investigated since the new round of probes was started. Most recently, the so-called Warren Buffett of China, Fosun International head Guo Guangchang, was also the subject of what was thought to be a corruption investigation.

[SCMP]