For more news and videos visit ☛ http://english.ntdtv.com
Follow us on Twitter ☛ http://twitter.com/NTDTelevision
Add us on Facebook ☛ http://on.fb.me/s5KV2C
A political earthquake in China...scandal-plagued Chinese official Bo Xilai has been removed from his posts as the Chinese Communist Party Secretary of Chongqing, and in the city's municipal and standing committees. He still for now retains his position in the Politburo, the second-highest level of leadership in the Chinese Communist Party.
On March 15th, state-run Xinhua News Agency posted a brief announcement of his dismissal.
At a press conference the day before, Premier Wen Jiabao chastised Bo for the Wang Lijun incident. It's a scandal that's rocked China's leadership and ruined Bo's political career. Wang, Bo's former right-hand man, tried to defect at the US Consulate in Chengdu last month.
Wang has now also been officially dismissed from his position as deputy mayor of Chongqing.
Bo Xilai has been replaced by Zhang Dejiang, another member of the Politburo. Zhang has a higher rank than Bo in the CCP. Both of them belong to former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin's faction.