Two Men Exposed for Impersonating High-Level Party Officials

Two Men Exposed for Impersonating High-Level Party Officials
Mar 25, 2013 By eChinacities.com

Editor’s note: this article was translated and edited from a piece that appeared on Ifeng News, and tells the tale of two men, Zhao Xiyong and Ge Shoujiang, who were recently exposed for impersonating high-level party members, fooling a number of Chinese enterprises and institutions. The pair were involved in various inspections, conferences, and forums across the country that were frequented by a large number of actual high-level officials.

On March 15, Southern Metropolis Weekly reported that two men, Zhao Xiyong and Ge Shoujiang, inspecting various enterprises across the country under the guise of high-level party officials. Upon meeting “fellow” officials, Zhao introduced himself as the “Head of the State Council Research Office” while Ge introduced himself under several titles including the “Director of Major Science and Technology Projects for the Ministry of Science and Technology”. Both men had their cover blown when in interviews with Southern Metropolis Weekly, their respective ministries stated that there were no such people working under their supposed positions. Many of the officials who were fooled by the ploys have also agreed to help out with the investigation of two men who are still at large.

Man of many guises

The multi-titled Ge was said to have appeared at many conferences during his time inspecting various business and enterprises across the country. According to previous media reports, on April 22, 2011, during a celebration for the Chinese Entrepreneur Century Forum, Ge introduced himself as “Dr Ge Shoujiang, a researcher in a leading group for the Ministry of Science and Technology,” and went on to discuss the results of China’s science and technology policies. On September 20 2011, Ge appeared at the Twelfth Public Science and Technology Forum in Shanxi under the guise of “Director of Major Science and Technology Projects for a leading group in the Ministry of Science and Technology” – a forum attended by various provincial leaders, according to the local media. 

On September 9, 2012, Ge also appeared at the China Ginseng Entrepreneur Forum in Jilin’s Fusong County, which was hosted by the Fusong People’s Government and the China Health Association and included a speech from the Fusong Committee Secretary. Other instances of Ge showing his face were at a Beijing “Nail Art and Anti-Bacterial Academic Exchange Conference” on September 15, 2012, and an appearance with fellow fraudster Zhao Xiyong at the Dongcheng International Kindergarten in Qingdao.           

Online notoriety

A website owned by small and medium sized enterprises in Yunnan stated that in September 2012, Ge Shoujiang was invited to attend a lecture as one of the experts of the event. This information was apparently passed on to many ministries and committees as well as the service centers of related small and medium enterprises.

On September 22, 2012, the website of Shandong Province’s Jining City Science and Technology Bureau released a statement stating that Ge was the sixth person to arrive at the Lunan Engineering and Technology Research Institute to oversee work processes. The event featured a conference that included the Vice-Mayor of Jining, the Chief and Vice-Chief of Jining’s Science and Technology Bureau, as well as the Deputy Director of the Jining High-Tech Zone Administrative Committee.            

Mass denial

On March 15, 2013, employees from the Major Science and Technology Projects for the Ministry of Science and Technology told Southern Metropolis that someone had previously inquired into the identity of Ge Shoujiang, though they said that there was no such person working for their department. Service centers for Yunnan small and medium enterprises denied that they had ever invited Ge, and also denied issuing any notice regarding his arrival. The Director of the Jining Science and Technology Bureau confirmed with Southern Metropolis Weekly that when Ge arrived in Jining he flashed a business card that confirmed him as an esteemed member of the Ministry of Science and Technology, and thus received him duly. The bureau didn’t receive any correspondence from the Ministry of Science and Technology however and also didn’t check with them to verify Ge’s identity. The director stated that when he later checked with the Ministry of Science and Technology and found that Ge wasn’t listed as an employee there, he was shocked, saying “it seemed he knew a fair amount about the ministry.”        

Though Southern Metropolis Weekly assisted in the discovery of his false identity, the current whereabouts of Ge Shoujiang remains unknown, though there has been speculation from some Chinese media institutions that he was in fact a low-level official who simply pretended he was someone much more significant.    

Zhao Xiyong – officials also in denial

Meanwhile, the investigation of Zhao Xiyong, who identified himself as “Head of the State Council Research Office”, has also attracted widespread attention. During an interview with the media on March 15, the various companies and government agencies that previously received Zhao stated that they hadn’t suffered any loss or damage. According to reports, Zhao, who also claimed to be a “Deputy Inspector”, visited many important places in Yunnan including the Kunming University of Science and Technology and the Yunnei Power Company. During trips to various counties under Yuxi City, Zhao issued statements regarding the economic development of the area.        

After getting in touch with the various propaganda departments in the counties under Yuxi, Southern Metropolis Weekly were told by each that they had never received a person by the name of Zhao Xiyong. Yao Qiangze, a worker at the Kunming University of Science and Technology Propaganda Department, did confirm however that Zhao had been a guest at a laboratory project organized by the university and Yunnei Power. “He simply attended a ceremony and a conference,” said Yao, who confirmed that Zhao hadn’t caused any adverse effects to the university.

“Incredibly low-key”

Those working at Yunnei Power who frequently came into contact with Zhao said that they did hire him to assist with the company’s development planning, and he did offer a few ideas though there were no financial exchanges. A worker from the Yunnei Power Equities Department said, “Zhao Xiyong told us that he was a leader, and didn’t want to make a name for himself. He said he just wanted to do a few things before he retired, and didn’t want to make it a big affair, so we just gave him an ordinary reception.” The worker said that for someone who claimed to be a “Deputy Inspector”, Zhao was incredibly low-key.      

Cover blown

Despite his apparent low-key style, it was a conference in Kunming back in November 2012, where Zhao seemed to take his masquerading a bit too far. During the conference, Zhao announced to delegates that “Kunming will receive a huge boost to its industry and economy” regarding supposed government plans for a new free-trade zone in the city. The announcement made national headlines and aroused the suspicions of many who demanded that an investigation into his identity be conducted.

On March 8, the State Council confirmed, “Zhao Xiyong is pretending to be the Head of the State Council Research Office; we announce that he does not work for the State Council and that no research team has ever been sent to Yunnan Province.” Following these announcements, the whereabouts and true identity of Zhao Xiyong are currently unknown, though he could face a prison sentence of between three to ten years if caught.
 

Source: Ifeng News, The Telegraph
 

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Keywords: Impersonating high level party officials Zhao Xiyong and Ge Shoujiang

1 Comments

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DaqingDevil

A couple of guys have been having a really good time it seems. To save face the councils and august bodies that wined and dined these men stated that they did not wine and dine these men....naturally. And of course no money or benefits were paid to these impersonators. (yeah right!)Maybe they can make a movie about it in a few years' time. Con men exist everywhere, every country, all races. They say there is a sucker born every minute. True.

Mar 25, 2013 13:07 Report Abuse