Chinese authorities have launched an investigation into a powerful economic planning official accused by a prominent journalist of corruption, the latest high-level target of the new leadership's anti-graft drive.
The ruling Communist Party's disciplinary agency said in a one-sentence statement on its website that Liu Tienan, deputy head of the Cabinet's National Development and Reform Commission, is being investigated for "suspected serious disciplinary violations."
The statement by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection on Sunday did not provide further details. But the investigation is being seen by Chinese state media as the party's response to corruption allegations against Liu made by Luo Changping, deputy editor-in-chief of the respected Caijing magazine.
Luo said in posts on his Twitter-like microblog in December that Liu had shady ties with a businessman, was involved in large, problematic bank loans and fabricated his academic qualifications.
Luo reportedly first obtained information on Liu's alleged wrongdoings from the official's former mistress, who lives in Japan and accused Liu of issuing death threats against her after their relationship ended.
Liu, 58, wields significant power in his position as deputy chief of the planning agency in charge of steering the world's second-largest economy. Liu also had been director of the National Energy Administration, which carried out the country's energy policy, until he was replaced in March.
The brief official statement on Liu does not mention the official's current status, but officials under investigation by the party's anti-graft agency are typically taken in for questioning and held in some form of detention.
