Beijing, former Central Party School professor expelled for comments against authorities

Cai Xia also defended Ren Zhiqiang, the billionaire who called Xi Jinping a "clown". Due to her criticism, the academician has also lost the right to a pension. The regime targets dissident intellectuals.

Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) - A retired professor from the Central Party School has been expelled from the Chinese Communist Party and lost her pension rights for attacking the authorities in some public comments.

In a statement published on its website the School said Cai Xia violated CCP discipline by delivering "execrable" speeches that created "serious political problems". In particular, the 68-year-old teacher defended Ren Zhiqiang, the dissident billionaire who was targeted by the regime for calling Xi Jinping a "power-hungry clown".

Cai, now in the United States, is a long-standing critic of the Party. She strongly supports the launch of liberal reforms in the country. According to a leaked recording of a speech circulated online since June, Cai called on the seven-member Politburo Standing Committee to replace a top leader. She did not identify the person but called for an overhaul of a wide range of domestic and foreign policies.

The professor instead expressed her support for Ren in an article posted online last month. The tycoon was indicted on July 23 for embezzlement. He was also expelled from the Party for damaging the image of the leadership and the state with his criticism.

Another well-known academic, jurist Xu Zhangrun, was recently punished for criticizing Xi and calling for democratic openings. The Qinghua University lecturer was arrested on 6 July for "promoting prostitution". Released a few days later, his university then fired him for "moral corruption".

• china
• cai xia
• beijing
• chinese communist party
• pcc
• xi jinping
• xu zhangrun
• ren zhiqiang
• expulsion
• indictment
• freedom
• democracy
• dissidents
• critics
• regime
• repression
• school
• university