Allegations Of Corruption Of A Heroic Descent Are The Great Disappointment Of The Chinese People

Photo illustration (Sam Balye / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The Chinese Communist Party's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), which functions as an anti-corruption agency, is investigating a local official who is still a descendant of a national hero.

Lin Dong, former Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) of Hainan Province who used to serve as the local Transportation Director, is suspected of having committed serious offenses, said the CCDI website, Monday, November 30.

Lin Dong is the son of the marine admiral Lin Zun who is very famous in China and is still the descendant of the national hero Lin Zexu. Lin Dong, who is 60 years old, has held major positions in the Hainan Provincial Government, including being Mayor of Danzhou and a member of the Hainan CPC Standing Committee.

He retired in March 2020. Netizens on Chinese social media expressed disappointment with Lin Dong that the hero's descendants should be role models.

Lin Zexu was an important official during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). He earned the title of hero for his patriotic attitude in modern Chinese history. He was also noted for his fierce resistance in the First Opium War (1839-1942) against England.

Apart from his birthplace in Fujian Province, a statue of Lin Zexu also stands in China Town Manhattan, New York, United States. The serious offenses referred to by CCDI are usually regarding the acceptance of bribes or criminal acts of corruption related to one's position.