Wang Lijun
In 2014, Zhao was omitted from the guest list for a Liaoning arts conference and the Communist Party Central Committee's own exclusive arts conference in Beijing hosted by General Secretary Xi Jinping to "promote Chinese values". His missing both conferences led to speculation about Zhao having politically fallen 'out of line'. Chinese-language media has linked Zhao with disgraced politicians Bo Xilai and Wang Lijun, both of whom spent a large part of their careers in Zhao's home province, Liaoning.