Mother of Chinese pop star Wanting Qu arrested on corruption charges

The mother of a Chinese pop star who is dating Vancouver's mayor has been arrested on suspicion of corruption, according to Chinese state media.

Qu Zhang Mingjie, the mother of singer/songwriter Wanting Qu, is currently being held by police in the Gu township, reports the South China Morning Post, citing Chinese media sources.

Zhang Mingjie, a Communist Party official in Harbin, north-east China, was dismissed as deputy director of the city's development and reform commission in September 2014 and in November was relieved of duties related of duties relating to the city's urban construction and renewal programme, reports China Daily.

The arrest relates to accusations that she sold state properties for personal profit below market value.

Wanting Qu has a huge following in Malaysia and China, and is an official ambassador for Tourism Vancouver. She has been in a relationship with Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson for two months. She has not commented on the arrests on her social media accounts.

Qu was born in Harbin, but has worked on and off in Canada since the age of 16, according to Tourism Vancouver.

She recently wrote a message to her mother, from whom she is believed to be estranged, on Facebook.

"Despite our differences, we share the same blood," Qu wrote on 16 April. "I must admit I feel regretful for not being in her life for the past 15 years. I also feel somewhat resentful towards her for not being in mine since I was a teen.

"But over the years… I've forgiven her because I've grown to understand fully that no one is perfect. No even her. Just because she's suddenly a mother doesn't make her immune to all faults."