No rift in China's Communist Party over Bo's sacking: Report

The paper said that Westerners were interpreting the case as being related to a "political fight", but it was a case of party discipline and Chinese laws. "What is going on is the inevitable result of a lawful investigation," the paper said, claiming that it was an exaggeration to say that the case mirrors China's political fight.

"The stir around Bo's case will fade soon. The idea that China might fall into a so-called magnified struggle, due to such an incident, has long become history," it claimed.

While Bo was sacked from all post in the party and the government for indiscipline, his wife Gu Kalai and orderly has been arrested in connection with the murder of a United Kingdom businessman.

Bo is facing investigation by the party for indiscipline. All three could face long prison terms and Gu could face death sentence if the murder charge is proved.

Reports from Chongqing said thousands demonstrated for two days but the government said the protests were about local issue of merging districts. The paper denied that factions representing reformists and conservatives existed in the party, as painted by the West.

Unlike the Western system which advocate diversity, China follows a balanced approach between implanting reforms and development and stability, the paper said.

"Westerners are easily misled into believing that the so-called struggle between different political lines is ubiquitous," it said.

"However, China's political system sets harmony as the basis of national governance. As soon as a gap arises, a set of mechanisms aimed at narrowing it and building a social consensus will start to work. Such mechanisms are growing increasingly strong and mature," it said.

"China is not standing at a so-called political crossroad. Party members and society have reached consensus over the general direction of establishing socialism with Chinese characteristics," it said.

"Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, westernisation has long been dispelled as a possible choice for China's reform. Few Chinese accept the Western doctrine that the CPC should legally have factions," it said.