Inner Mongolia vice-chairman under probe

Bai Xiangqun, vice-chairman of the government of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, is under investigation for alleged "serious violation of discipline and law", anti-corruption authorities said on Wednesday.

The 55-year-old was suspected of violating disciplinary rules and laws, according to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission.

Bai, a member of the Mongolian ethnic group, was born in Liaoning province. He began studying physics at Inner Mongolia Normal University in 1980, where he joined the Communist Party of China in 1984. He began his career at the region's Chifeng education bureau upon graduation the same year.

In 2003, Bai was appointed mayor of Wuhai and in 2011 was elevated to Party chief of Xilin Gol league.

He was vice-chairman of the government from 2012 until he was placed under investigation on Wednesday. According to local media reports, Bai's last public appearance was on Friday, when he attended a conference in Hohhot and delivered a speech.

He was the second high-ranking official probed since the supervisory commission was established in March.

Wang Xiaoguang, vice-governor of Guizhou province, was placed under investigation for violating disciplines and laws on April 1.