Former senior Taiwan affairs official expelled from Party

BEIJING -- A former senior official of the Chinese mainland's Taiwan affairs body has been expelled from the Party for serious disciplinary offenses, the authority said Thursday.

Gong Qinggai was deputy head of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the Communist Party of China (CPC) found that Gong had been involved in suspicious activities for a long time. He was found to have broken the rules on thrift.

Gong did not honestly report his personal assets, accepted gifts and used his post to seek benefits for the businesses of others. He made use of luxury cars he did not own.

Gong was expelled from the Party and from his post, with the approval of the State Council. His case has been passed on to the judiciary.