As noted previously on this blog, the PRC Communist Party considers reading books with "political problems" to be grounds to punish government officials. See: "Party Expels Official Citing He Read Books with 'Political Problems'" https://blog.feichangdao.com/2023/06/party-expels-official-citing-he-read.html
Now the Party is citing the same justification in a decision to punish a businessman. According to PRC state-sponsored media, Tang Shuangning (唐双宁), former Party chief and chairman of the China Everbright Group was being investigated by the Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision for corruption. The official government/Party statement (machine translated below) cited several grounds supporting their claims that he had committed violations of "Party discipline and law," including:
- Weakening the Party's leadership over state-owned enterprises (弱化党对国有企业的领导);
- Bringing books and periodicals with serious political problems into the country without permission and reading them (私自携带有严重政治问题的书刊入境并阅看).
Tang Shuangning, former Party Secretary and Chairman of China Everbright Group, was expelled from the Party for serious violations of discipline and law.
Source: Website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the State Supervision Commission Release time: 2024-01-06 12:00
According to the website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission, with the approval of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission launched a case review and investigation into Tang Shuangning, the former Party Secretary and Chairman of China Everbright Group Co., Ltd., for serious violations of discipline and law.
After investigation, Tang Shuangning lost his party spirit, abandoned his duties and missions, was not resolute in implementing the Party Central Committee's major decisions and arrangements, weakened the Party's leadership over state-owned enterprises, failed to prevent and resolve financial risks, violated the Party's organizational line, and abandoned the principle of comprehensive and strict governance of the Party. He took advantage of his authority to publicize personal calligraphy and other works, brought books and periodicals with serious political issues into the country without permission and read them, resisting organizational scrutiny. Ignoring the spirit of the eight central regulations, he used public funds to travel abroad in disguise in the name of inspection, and approved the purchase of buildings and halls in violation of regulations. He violated organizational principles and sought benefits for others in the selection and appointment of cadres. He lost his integrity, condoned and acquiesced in allowing others to use his authority for personal gain, and illegally accepted gifts and money such as celebrity calligraphy and paintings, commemorative coins, etc. He was greedy for pleasure, accepting "housekeeper-style" service. He wanted to be an official and be famous at the same time, transforming the public power granted by the Party and the people into a tool for seeking fame and fortune, engaging in "elegant corruption", taking advantage of the convenience of his position, illegally occupying public property, providing loans for others seeking profits from approvals, job promotions, etc., and illegally receiving huge amounts of property.
Tang Shuangning seriously violated the Party's political discipline, organizational discipline, integrity discipline and life discipline, which constituted a serious job violation and was suspected of corruption and bribery crimes. He also refused to restrain or stop after the 18th National Congress of the Party. The nature was serious and the impact was bad, so he should be punished. In accordance with the "Disciplinary Punishment Regulations of the Communist Party of China", the Supervision Law of the People's Republic of China, the Law of the People's Republic of China on Administrative Punishments for Public Servants, and other relevant provisions, after study by the Standing Committee of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection at a meeting and reported to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China for approval, it was decided to expel Tang Shuangning from the Party. It stipulated that the treatment he enjoys will be cancelled; his illegal gains that violate discipline and laws will be confiscated; his suspected criminal issues will be transferred to the procuratorate for review and prosecution in accordance with the law, and the property involved will be transferred together.
中国光大集团原党委书记、董事长唐双宁严重违纪违法被开除党籍
来源：中央纪委国家监委网站 发布时间： 2024-01-06 12:00
中央纪委国家监委网站讯 经中共中央批准，中央纪委国家监委对中国光大集团股份公司原党委书记、董事长唐双宁严重违纪违法问题进行了立案审查调查。
经查，唐双宁丧失党性原则，背弃职责使命，贯彻落实党中央重大决策部署不坚决，弱化党对国有企业的领导，防范化解金融风险不力，违背党的组织路线，弃守全面从严治党主体责任，利用职权大肆宣传个人书法等作品，私自携带有严重政治问题的书刊入境并阅看，对抗组织审查；无视中央八项规定精神，以考察名义变相用公款出国旅游，违规批准购置楼堂馆所、占用单位住房；违反组织原则，在干部选拔任用等方面为他人谋取利益；廉洁底线失守，纵容、默许他人利用本人职权谋取私利，违规收受名人字画、纪念币等礼品和礼金；贪图享乐，接受“管家式”服务；既想当官又想出名，将党和人民赋予的公权力异化为谋求名利的工具，大搞“雅腐”，利用职务便利，非法占有公共财物，为他人在贷款审批、职务晋升等方面谋利，并非法收受巨额财物。
唐双宁严重违反党的政治纪律、组织纪律、廉洁纪律和生活纪律，构成严重职务违法并涉嫌贪污、受贿犯罪，且在党的十八大后不收敛、不收手，性质严重，影响恶劣，应予严肃处理。依据《中国共产党纪律处分条例》《中华人民共和国监察法》《中华人民共和国公职人员政务处分法》等有关规定，经中央纪委常委会会议研究并报中共中央批准，决定给予唐双宁开除党籍处分；按规定取消其享受的待遇；收缴其违纪违法所得；将其涉嫌犯罪问题移送检察机关依法审查起诉，所涉财物一并移送。
Source: https://www.ccdi.gov.cn/yaowenn/202401/t20240115_322124.html
