The following post by the Chinese-language edition of Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post (SCMP_南華早報), which reports on corruption allegations against Henan businessman Guo Wengui (郭文贵), was deleted from Weibo sometime before 10:27AM today, March 31, 2015. The post was live on Weibo for approximately 12 hours. [Explore more deleted posts by using the Weiboscope, created by the Journalism & Media Studies Centre.]
Guo Wengui has been a center of controversy since a report from China’s Caixin newsmagazine alleged that China’s former deputy minister of public security, Ma Jian, who is currently facing a corruption investigation, aided Guo Wengui’s business interest while in his post. Guo, who is currently in the United States — where he says he is seeking medical treatment — has denied any wrongdoing.
A translation of the Weibo post from the SCMP follows:
[Guo Wengui: I am a Hong Kong citizen/and receive the protection of U.S. laws] The South China Morning Post today interviewed Guo Wengui, who is currently in the United States, and asked when he will return home [to China]. He responded: :”[This is] for sure! This is my country. Why wouldn’t I return? First of all, I haven’t broken the law; secondly, I haven’t committee any crime. so why wouldn’t I go back?” He also voiced his respect for former deputy head of public security Ma Jian, who is currently under investigation: “If it weren’t for him, I would be where I am today.”
The original Chinese-language post follows:
【郭文贵:我是香港公民 受美国法律保护】《南华早报》今天专访了目前身处美国的郭文贵,追问他何时回国,他回复说:“(这是)一定的!这是我的国家,我为什么不回去。我一没犯法、二没犯罪,为什么不回去。”他还表示很尊重正在接受调查的国安部副部长马建:“要是没有他,我就不会有今天。”