Recent Posts
Home >Unlabelled > Fallen Chinese politician's son defends himself on Astini News
Fallen Chinese politician's son defends himself on Astini News
Posted on Friday, April 27, 2012 by astini
Associated Press
BEIJING (AP) - The son of fallen Chinese politician Bo Xilai defended his academic record and social life while at university in England and the United States in a letter that is the latest example of the extraordinary public evolution of China's messiest political scandal.
Bo Guagua, a Harvard graduate student, denied that he received preferential treatment in admissions, was a poor student and drove a pricey sports car. In a letter to the Harvard Crimson student newspaper published Tuesday, he said he attended social events as an Oxford University undergraduate to broaden his perspective.
His father, Bo Xilai, is believed to have been a leading candidate for one of the nine seats on the ruling Communist Party's all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee, but his political career is now considered over. He fell out of favor with some in the leadership over his flashy personal style, suspected corruption, and the excesses of a dual campaign to fight gangsters and promote Mao Zedong-era Communist culture in the southwestern mega-city of Chongqing.
He is under investigation for unspecified malfeasance after being suspended from the Politburo. Since the April 10 announcement of the suspension, accusations of heavy partying by his son have appeared in some Western media reports and on Chinese blogs.
Bo Xilai's wife, Gu Kailai, and an assistant were named at the same time as suspects in the murder last November of British businessman Neil Heywood, whose former close relations with the Bo family had soured.
There has been no official word on the scandal since the announcement of Bo's suspension, and Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said Wednesday that the investigation was proceeding, but gave no details.
"Judicial authorities are handling it according to the law," Liu told reporters at a daily briefing.
Fallout from the scandal also spread to Bo Xilai's older brother, who resigned from a Chinese company's board after news reports revealed he was working there under a different name, highlighting the family's intricate web of business links.
In his letter, Bo Guagua, 24, said he was "deeply concerned about the events surrounding my family," but had no further comments on the charges. His parents have not been heard of or seen in public since the announcement of the investigations.
He said his tuition at Harvard, Oxford and the expensive British prep school he attended were covered by scholarships and his mother's earnings as a successful lawyer and author. He also denied ever having lent his name to any for-profit business ventures.
Apparently responding to criticism of photos posted online of him attending parties and posing with school friends, Bo said he participated in normal social events while at Oxford, partly as a way to "broaden my perspective."
"I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank my teachers, friends and classmates for their support during this difficult time," he wrote.
Bo Guagua's whereabouts are not known. British media reported earlier this month that he had left his apartment near Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the company of security guards.
Bo's letter was his first statement on the scandal that has shaken Chinese politics ahead of a once-in-a-generation transition to a new set of younger leaders who will chart the course for the world's most populous nation and second-largest economy.
Widespread access to the Internet and the enormous popularity of China's Twitter-like Weibo microblogging service have spread news about the case in a way unseen in previous Chinese scandals. That has apparently deeply disconcerted a Communist leadership used to intense secrecy over their inner workings, prompting attempts to rein in discussion online by banning searches for sensitive words including "Bo Guagua."
Separately, Bo Xilai's older brother resigned as vice chairman and executive director of China Everbright International Ltd., the company said late Wednesday. Li Xueming quit in order to minimize "possible adverse effects on the company" of media reports on his family background, it said.
Recent news reports had identified Li as Bo's brother and said his real name is Bo Xiyong.
Other relatives of Bo Xilai and his wife also have business ties in Hong Kong, according to corporate and regulatory records. One of Gu Kailai's sisters, Gu Wangjiang, has been a director of at least eight companies. One was a venture involving Malaysia's Berjaya Group and her role was to advise on proposed lottery projects in China, but it was dissolved after the projects didn't pan out.
Li Wangzhi, Bo Xilai's son by his first wife, is listed as having worked at Citigroup Global Markets Asia Ltd. for about nine months starting in October 2005.
___
AP Business Writer Kelvin Chan in Hong Kong contributed to this report.
___
Online:
Bo's letter: http://telecomadvisors.biz/bit.ly/Io8hFB
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Blog Archive
-
▼
2012
(4078)
-
▼
April
(682)
- petMD.com Lists the Top 5 Dog and Top 5 Cat Breeds...
- Grover Norquist Has No Interest in Bipartisan Coop...
- ORANGEBURG | Cordova resident supports Locks of Lo...
- Apple indeed has a TV in the works, claims Reuters...
- Iâm âA Bacheloretteâ; Singer Wants âA Guy ...
- Independence students âpay it forwardâ - Local...
- Apple iPhone 5 To Be 20 Percent Thinner, Jefferies...
- Wilson On Angels' Slow Start: That's The Way Baseb...
- How the new Seahawks uniforms came to be | Seattle...
- Dover NH, Rochester NH, Portsmouth NH, Laconia NH,...
- Jeff Goldblum brings his quirky style to Broadway ...
- Danny Green Wants Anthony Mundine To Put Up or Shu...
- Markets await Friday jobs report | Money on Astini...
- Lisa Marie Presley: I Thought Iâd Die at 42 Like...
- Zimmerman, Attorney Launch New Website - Local New...
- NWCN.com | Oregon News on Astini News
- Eagles Looking Up; Umenyiora Unhappy on Astini News
- Most active New York Stock Exchange-traded stocks ...
- Loudoun public defender Lorie OâDonnell arrested...
- China property market digest, April 19-30 | Reuter...
- 2012 NFL Draft: Colts' Saturday picks | Indianapol...
- plainville.TheSunChronicle.com on Astini News
- Go Red For Women Luncheon May 9th on Astini News
- SpaceX Falcon 9 Set for Critical Engine Test Firin...
- 'Army Wives': Kellie Martin talks Patti LuPone, Ni...
- Chef Robert Irvine dishes tough love to failing ea...
- Google Goggles update doubles recognition speed on...
- Tulane's Dezman Moses realizes NFL dream, committe...
- Syracuse basketball links: Catching up with Eric D...
- Lecrae Reveals Artwork and Details for New Mixtape...
- Does Chocolate Make You Thin? on Astini News
- You're Wrong About Madoff, and That Ignorance Will...
- Alabama officials want to freeze No Child Left Beh...
- Five Local GOP Statehouse Candidates Debate Thursd...
- Fifth tornado confirmed in southeast Colorado on A...
- Trustees to blame for riot on Astini News
- Kim Kardashian, Jon Hamm settle the score on '30 R...
- A Very Pricey Pineapple - NYTimes.com on Astini News
- Swtor: Raiding/Operations for Dummies - Spokane PC...
- Play addresses the other side of Jack the Ripper t...
- Jeremy Hunt launches 'once in a lifetime' London 2...
- Small earthquake recorded in central Oklahoma - KF...
- Apple is better off without Steve Jobs on Astini News
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft two West Virginia defen...
- IAS abduction: hostage crisis enters day eight - I...
- WTVC NewsChannel 9 :: News - Top Stories on Astini...
- Halle Berry, Olivier Martinez star in 'Dark Tide',...
- Pope Appoints Archbishop of Washington, Cardinal W...
- World Malaria Day is April 25; Malaria No More Tea...
- Hotwire Reveals April 2012 Travel Savings Indicato...
- Nikon D3200 24.2 MP CMOS Digital Amazon Coupon Cod...
- Indiaâs Vikramaditya aircraft carrier prepares f...
- Jerry Hairston Jr. compares Bryce Harper to Jay Br...
- Taxi drivers accuse Alexandria Yellow Cab of explo...
- Rethinking AGW, Part 5: Pascal's Wager - E. Magill...
- Tyler Perry Helps Obama Top Romney In Georgia Fund...
- HIV/AIDS: Still a world threat three ... JPost on ...
- At last his party's candidate, will Romney let a h...
- Drunk passengers, playboy pilots and life in the s...
- State cops restart anti-Red operations on Astini News
- The physics and physicist behind the hit game Angr...
- South Miami city police have new canine officer - ...
- The Week in Cartoons - News on Astini News
- Syria accuses UN chief of encouraging militants on...
- Former New York Yankee Bill âMooseâ Skowron di...
- KC & The Sunshine Band and Javier Colon To Perform...
- Twinkleâs Kitchen | Sinful Cinnamon Rolls on Ast...
- Russia District Skolkovo To Host 2014 G8 Summit - ...
- Newman/Haas withdraws from Indianapolis 500 on Ast...
- Michigan State's Trenton Robinson has speed, skill...
- Pleasant Valley High School honor roll on Astini News
- 'The Good Wife': Season 3's Best Moments on Astini...
- Page Not Found on Astini News
- MTV Multiplayer â Harley Quinn Gets Her Revenge ...
- Meghan McCain Slams Greta Van Susteren for Invitin...
- 'Hold Your Nose And Vote For Ken' on Astini News
- Fallen Chinese politician's son defends himself on...
- Zodiac Aerospace (ZC) - Financial and Strategic SW...
- Wembé Expands U.S. Distribution Through Partnersh...
- Yuma skies, sites to fill with military aircraft |...
- Jessica Simpson has lavish baby shower on Astini News
- How Pregnant Reese Witherspoon Has Dressed Her Bab...
- 2012 NFL Draft: Nick Perry Will Get Green Bay Pack...
- Nevada woos Chinese energy firmpartners? | The Des...
- Delmon Young charged with error after Detroit Tige...
- Citizens Bank Settles Overdraft Fee Lawsuit For $1...
- Speedy Guacamole » Lifestyle » EagleTribune.com,...
- Portland advances to WHL final for 2nd straight ye...
- Friday Grok: Dotcom results â very good news, wi...
- Students pepper-sprayed at Santa Monica College pr...
- Briggs Dodge looks forward to award-winning 2013 D...
- Sean Astin's Lord of the Rings collection to be fe...
- Brett Ratner, Dakota Fanning, Whoopi Goldberg Amon...
- Win A Meeting With Sean Parker, NEA, Bessemer & Mo...
- Perfect Sunday lunch: roast rib of beef with water...
- MINI Cooper GP II Spy Photos | Reviews | Prices on...
- Twentieth Century Fox Launches "Alvin and the Chip...
- InstantCouponsHere.com announces setbacks shoppers...
- Humongous solar flare erupts from sun on Astini News
- Rolling Stones | The Rolling Stones Heading Back T...
-
▼
April
(682)