China Steps Up Anti-Corruption Efforts Across Multiple Sectors
The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the National Commission of Supervision (NCS), the country’s top anti-graft body, has announced plans to intensify scrutiny in key sectors, including finance, state-owned enterprises (SOEs), healthcare, grain procurement and sale, rural revitalization, tobacco, sports, statistics, and more.
Focus on Preventing Systemic Risks
Special efforts will be made to tackle industrial, systemic, and regional corruption cases, with a focus on preventing and defusing systemic risks. The anti–corruption campaign aims to expand to the primary level, with harsh punishments meted out for misconduct such as embezzlement, illegal possession, misappropriation, and bribery solicitation.
Five-Year Work Plan (2023-2027)
According to the CCDI and NCS’ five-year work plan, the anti-corruption campaign will focus on:
- Expanding anti-corruption efforts to the primary level
- Punishing corruption cases involving high-ranking officials
- Preventing and defusing systemic risks in key sectors
Results of Anti-Corruption Efforts So Far
Over the first nine months of 2023, a total of 405,000 officials at all levels were punished, including 34 senior officials at provincial or ministerial levels.
Focus on Finance Sector
In recent years, the financial sector has been a key target for anti-corruption efforts. In 2023 alone, at least 101 individuals in the finance industry were placed under investigation, including:
- Liu Liange, former Party chief and president of the Bank of China
- Zhou Qingyu, former vice president of China Development Bank
- Li Xiaopeng, former Party chief and chairman of China Everbright Group
The majority of those investigated (74) came from the banking sector.
Ongoing Campaign in 2024
The anti- corruption campaign is expected to continue at a high intensity in 2024. The latest case involves Wang Yongsheng, former deputy president of China Development Bank, who was expelled from the CPC for severe violations of Party discipline and the law. The CCDI has pledged to maintain a “high-pressure stance” against corruption and never relent in punishing wrongdoing in order to decisively win the battle against corruption.