Senior official of Qinghai placed under investigation

Deputy governor of Qinghai province Wen Guodong is being investigated for suspected serious violations of discipline and law after he surrendered himself to disciplinary authorities, the Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said on Sunday.

Wen, 52, is also the Party chief of the Haixi Mongolian-Tibetan autonomous prefecture and the Qaidam Circular Economy Pilot Zone in Qinghai province.

A large-scale illegal mining case in Haixi has recently made headlines nationwide for the severe damage caused to the Qilian Mountains. It is unclear if Wen is involved in the case.

Last month, two officials of Haixi prefecture, Liang Yanguo and Li Yongping, were removed from their posts for alleged dereliction of supervision duty on illicit mining in Muli coal field in Qilian Mountains.

Another three officials from local supervision departments in Haixi were also sacked and placed under investigation.

Other officials from the prefecture's government, the Qaidam Circular Economy Pilot Zone that oversees the mountains, the natural resource department and the ecology and environment department are also being investigated.