Watchdog confirms Sichuan governor under probe for violating Party discipline

A provincial governor who was "missing" during some key conferences has been confirmed to be under investigation for violating the Party's discipline, China's anti-corruption watchdog said in a news conference on Friday.

Wei Hong, the governor of Sichuan province, who was absent from two important conferences in the province from Dec 27 to Dec 28, is self-reflecting and going over his mistakes, said Wu Yuliang, deputy secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China.

"We'll deal with Wei in line with his specific case," Wu added.

The 61-year-old Wei, also the deputy secretary of the CPC Sichuan Committee, is a native of Shandong province and started his work in 1970.

Wu also said during the conference that they are making efforts in the case of Ling Wancheng, a wealthy and politically connected businessman, who fled to the United States.

"We are in talks about the case with the US," Wu added.

Ling Wancheng is the youngest brother of Ling Jihua.

Ling Jihua, one of the highest-level officials caught in the anti-graft campaign, was put under investigation in July last year on suspicion of bribery. He was the former director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the former head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee.

President Xi Jinping has made the anti-corruption drive the centerpiece of government's policy.