Ling Wancheng (L) and Ling Jihua (R)
China is requesting that the United States return a politically connected businessman who may be in possession of information that Beijing finds “embarrassing”, according to the New York Times.
Ling Wancheng is the brother of Ling Jihua, who served as vice chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee and head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee until he was caught up in Xi Jinping’s hard-hitting anti-corruption campaign. The former presidential aide was arrested and expelled from the CPC after he was accused of accepting bribes and committing adultery with various women, “trading his power for sex”.
The Chinese government has in recent months put pressure on the Obama administration over the return of Ling Wancheng, who booked it to California and now resides in a 2.5 million USD home which he’d purchased from a former NBA player, according to the Times.
The Obama administration has thus far refused to accede to Beijing’s demands for Ling Wancheng, and his possible defection could be an intelligence coup at China’s expense after it was revealed last month that computer hackers had stolen the personnel files of millions of American government workers and contractors. American officials have said that they are nearly certain the Chinese government carried out the data theft.
Mr. Ling’s wealth and his family’s status have allowed him to move freely in elite circles in China, and he may be in possession of embarrassing information about current and former officials loyal to Mr. Xi.
Notably, Wang is not listed among the 40 Chinese fugitives believed to be residing in the US.
Ling's house in Loomis, California. I went there on July 21. No one appeared to be home. pic.twitter.com/VG5StkpiSt
— Mike Forsythe 傅才德 (@PekingMike) August 4, 2015
The driveway leading to Ling Wancheng's home. It is a one-story, 7800 sq ft palace of a home. pic.twitter.com/w2SxxYZNMF
— Mike Forsythe 傅才德 (@PekingMike) August 4, 2015
It’s unclear whether Ling had applied for asylum, a process which usually takes between one and three years. His presence in the US, however, will likely further strain ties between the two nations ahead of Xi’s first state visit to the United States in September.
[Image via the Telegraph // NYT]
