Netizens' doubts over official's rapid rise

BEIJING - An official slated for promotion in Southwest China recently faced online charges that linked her rise with an alleged affair with her former superior and raised doubts about the credibility of her CV.

Since early last week, allegations popped up in online posts that Dang Xuyan, deputy director of the management committee of the Kunming National High and New Tech Industry Development Zone in Southwest China's Yunnan province, had exploited her relationship with Zhang Xinghua, the committee's former head, to gain fast promotions to her current position.

The posts came as Dang was due to be appointed deputy chief of the provincial branch of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, a semi-official foreign trade association.