【新唐人2013年06月25日訊】6月23號，中共當局突然向外界宣佈，原四川省副省長郭永祥因涉嫌嚴重違紀，接受組織調查。而郭永祥的另外一個身份，就是前中央政法委書記周永康的秘書。中共「十八大」後至今，有多名高官落馬，其中三個最高級別的官員，恰恰都與周永康有著相當的關聯，他們分別是﹕四川省委副書記李春城、湖北省政法委書記吳永文，以及郭永祥三人。大陸時政評論者分析，周永康危險了!
1949年出生，現年64歲的郭永祥，此時被調查顯然出乎外界意料。因為根據中國公務員制度規定，副省級幹部通常65歲就退居二線。而按照中共慣例，即使官員在退休之前有問題，只要不觸及所謂紅線，通常會提前退休，被賦予一個閑職。
現居北京的前《經濟學週報》副總編輯高瑜認為，李春城，吳永文和郭永祥這三個副部級官員落馬，可能都是中央調查某個更高級別的大案，而牽連出來的。
前《經濟學週報》副總編高瑜：「因為中國副部級官員很多很多。而且問題也是很多的。但是這三個人先後落馬，而且都涉及到他們工作上可能都和某些方面有關聯。就說明中央還在對一些很大的案子進行調查。從這個情況來講，肯定中央它現在不是說只調查一些副部級的人物，也可能這些人物都是被牽連出來的。」
另外，前「北京社會經濟科學研究所」所長陳子明認為，郭永祥的落馬，可能是中共高層態度轉變的一個重要信號。
前北京社會經濟科學研究所所長陳子明：「周永康可能有點兒危了。過去所謂刑不上常委，現在新的班子有可能想要突破。當然阻力還很大。我了解到的情況，他們曾經努力過，一度放棄過。現在是不是又在嚐試？反正昨天這個消息，我看了是很高興。」
自從前重慶市委書記薄熙來案發之後，周永康一直處於十面埋伏的危機當中。在習近平去年二月訪美的時候，美國《華盛頓自由燈塔》網站曾經爆料，王立軍投奔美領館攜帶的材料當中，有薄熙來和周永康在前黨魁江澤民的庇護下，準備半路廢掉習近平取而代之的政變計劃。
高瑜：「那個時候中央沒有正式拿出來，大家只是看外媒。現在仍然是這個樣子。大家就看一點消息。只能他們甚麼時候公布，甚麼時候才把底牌給揭出來。」
有評論說，郭永祥被查，可能代表中共對常委級的高層，開始建立追溯性的懲罰機制，對周永康的處置，可能效仿前中共中央政治局常委黃菊的模式。
而中共歷來有「刑不上常、死不入局」的潛規則，也就是，政治局常委不受刑事追究、政治局委員不受死刑判決。但是最近又有報導說，習近平打算摘掉新舊常委的所謂「免死金牌」。陳子明表示，他聽到的說法很多，互有矛盾。
陳子明：「但是這些消息這麼多，說明這件事本身在博弈之中。我們就要看這個郭的這個案子怎麼往下發展了。」
石油工人出身的郭永祥，在前十幾年的政治生涯中可謂平淡無奇，但是，從1990年郭永祥擔任中國石油天然氣總公司處長之後，他的仕途開始與時任中國石油天然氣總公司副總經理、黨組副書記的周永康有了交集，官運也陡然亨通起來。
郭永祥在1992年至1998年期間，擔任了中石油天然氣總公司研究室的副主任，成為周永康的貼身「大秘」。
而四川省委副書記李春城因為涉嫌嚴重違紀，於去年12月2號被紀檢部門帶走，成為習近平上臺後第一個落馬的中央委員。不僅如此，四川政、商兩界的領導，已有多人陸續落馬。
採訪編輯/秦雪 後製/肖顏
Signal Given by Case of Guo Yongxiang
On June 23, Guo Yongxiang, ex-deputy governor of
Sichuan province, was officially declared to be under
investigation by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Guo was accused of serious violation of the Party’s discipline.
Also, Guo has served as secretary of Zhou Yongkang,
former czar of Political& Legislative Affairs Committee.
Since the 18th CCP Party Congress, a number of
senior officials have been removed from their posts.
The three highest ranking officials were all closely
linked to Zhou Yongkang.
They are Li Chuncheng, ex-deputy Party chief of Sichuan,
Wu Yongwen, PLAC chief of Hubei province, and Guo Yongxiang.
Political commentator believes this may indicate
that Zhou Yongkang is in peril.
The CCP unexpectedly put 64-year-old Guo Yongxiang
under investigation.
According to Civil Service regulations, the unofficial
retirement age for the sub-provincial-level CCP cadres is 65.
In practice, a CCP cadre, who even if found guilty,
would be offered an early retirement by getting a sinecure.
The premise is that the cadre did not cross over
the “red guilt line” set by the Party.
Beijing-based veteran journalist, Gao Yu, comments.
The three vice ministerial-level officials,
Li Chuncheng, Wu Yongwen and Guo Yongxiang,
might be pulled out when investigating
some specific big cases.
(Veteran journalist, Beijing) Gao Yu: “There’re plenty of
vice-ministerial level CCP officials who have been involved in crimes.
The sacking of these three indicates that their work
may be related to some higher-ranking officials.
That is, the CCP central may be conducting
investigations into some big cases.
Under this context, it’s clear the central probe isn’t
limited to the scope of vice-ministerial level officials.
These three may be the mud clinging to
the radish that is to be pulled out.”
Chen Ziming is former director of Beijing Social Science
Research Institute.
Chen thinks Guo Yongxiang’s dismissal may be
a sign of the CCP top leadership shifting their attitudes.
Chen Ziming: “Zhou Yongkang may be in danger.
In the past, members of CCP Politburo Standing
Committee could be exempt from criminal penalty.
The new leadership team might want to
make breakthroughs in this respect.
Of course, the resistance is still very large.
I’ve learned that they once made efforts on this,
but some time later gave it up.
But aren’t they making another attempt now?
I felt very happy when I got the news yesterday.”
Since the exposure of Bo Xilai’s case, Zhou Yongkang
has been in danger of an ambush.
In February 2012 during Xi Jinping’s visit in the USA,
US-based Freebeacon.com disclosed a coup plan
made by Bo and Zhou to overthrow Xi Jinping.
The plot was covered in the materials carried out by
by Wang Lijun, who sought asylum in Chengdu.
Gao Yu: “At that time the central authorities hadn’t
mentioned the incident, we got told by overseas media.
Now, nothing has changed in practice, we still get
scant news from China’s media.
So the final result can be exposed only after
the authorities have made a declaration.”
Some critics say that the probe into Guo Yongxiang may
signal the setting up of a retrospective punishment mechanism.
It targets the CCP leading officials at the level of
the Politburo Standing Committee.
The way of dealing with Zhou Yongkang may follow
what the CCP has done to Huang Ju,
former Politburo Standing Committee member,
according to comments.
It has always been known that members of the CCP
Politburo Standing Committee are exempt from criminal liabilities.
Whilst the Party’s Politburo members can also be
safe from the death penalty.
Recently, media has reported that Xi Jinping intends to
remove the “death-exemption shield”.
Chen Ziming says he has heard various arguments,
but which are contradictory to each other.
Chen Ziming: “There’re so much news about the issue,
which indicates that there is still a stalemate.
How will Guo’s case progress? let’s wait and see.”
Reportedly, Guo Yongxiang began his career
as an oil field worker.
In his political career, the first stage of over ten years
was rather mediocre.
In 1990, Guo took over as divisional head
at China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).
At the time, Zhou Yongkang was the CNPC’s
deputy Party chief and deputy general manager.
From then on, Guo’s political promotion went smoothly.
From 1992-1998, Guo Yongxiang served as
deputy director of the CNPC Research Office.
He thus became Zhou Yongkang’s first secretary.
In December 2012, Li Chuncheng, deputy Party chief of
Sichuan province, was detained on suspicion of serious violation of CCP discipline.
Li became the first alternate member of
the CCP Central Committee who was axed by Xi Jinping.
And then more removals of Sichuan CCP officials ensued.