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China defends detention of Interpol chief

Beijing, China -  8 October 2018

1. Lu Kang, spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, walking on stage to begin news conference

2. Lu at podium

3. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Lu Kang, spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

"I believe the investigation into Meng Hongwei on suspicion of violating laws fully shows the Chinese government's unswerving determination in pursuing law-based governance and fighting corruption. Due to the suspicion of taking bribes and violating laws, Meng Hongwei himself has submitted the resignation as the Interpol chief. I can tell you that the Chinese Ministry of Public Security has formally informed the Interpol secretariat of the case."

4. Close of national emblem of the People's Republic of China

5. Mid of reporter

6. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Lu Kang, spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

"We believe the organisation will make arrangements according to its own regulation and China will continue to support the work of it and step up our cooperation with the member countries of the organization with its work."

7. Lu leaves news conference ++JUMPT CUT++

STORYLINE:

China says its detention of the head of Interpol has proven the nation's "unswerving determination in pursuing law-based governance and fighting corruption."

China detained Meng Hongwei, the first Chinese national to head the international police agency and China's vice minister for public security, and charged him with crimes including bribery.

"The investigation into Meng Hongwei on suspicion of violating laws fully shows Chinese government's unswerving determination in pursuing law-based governance and fighting corruption," said Lu Kang, spokesperson for China's ministry of Information, during a regular news conference Monday.

The disciplinary organ of China's ruling Communist Party said on Sunday night that Meng was under the investigation of China's new anti-corruption body, for unspecified legal violations.

Interpol said Meng had resigned as president of the agency's executive committee, effectively immediately. It did not say why.

His whereabouts and status have been mysteries since his wife reported Friday that she had not heard from him since he went to China at the end of September.

She told reporters in a press conference the last messages from Meng included "wait for my call" and a knife emoticon.