Beijing, China – President Xi Jinping’s sweeping anti-corruption campaign is escalating dramatically, marked by a recent death sentence for a former minister, a continuing purge of high-ranking military officials, and the disciplining of nearly 900,000 individuals in the past year alone. The campaign, which Xi has identified as a fight for the survival of the ruling Communist Party, is expanding its reach into military, political, and corporate sectors, reinforcing his authority and tightening central control.
In one of the most severe sentences handed down to a high-ranking official, former agriculture minister Tang Renjian was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for accepting bribes worth more than ¥268 million (US$37.6 million) between 2007 and 2024. The sentence underscores the campaign's unforgiving stance on what Xi has labeled the "biggest threat" to the party's rule.
The crackdown has ensnared numerous other "tigers," or high-level officials. The former chairman of the state-owned China Everbright Group was recently jailed for 12 years for corruption. Meanwhile, Tong Jilu, the former head of telecom giant China Tower, is under investigation by the Communist Party’s anti-corruption watchdog, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), for "serious violations of discipline and law," a common euphemism for corruption.
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) has been a particular focus of the anti-graft push, in a move seen as consolidating Xi’s control over the armed forces. Four generals, including Wang Chunning, a commander in the People’s Armed Police, were recently expelled from the National People's Congress over corruption allegations. The PLA's elite Rocket Force also banned nearly 200 suppliers and evaluators following a nine-year procurement corruption probe. Further highlighting the scrutiny on the military-industrial complex, Tan Ruisong, the former chairman of the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), was expelled from the Communist Party on corruption charges.
The sheer scale of the campaign is staggering. According to a CCDI report, authorities filed over 4,000 disciplinary cases against officials in 2024, leading to punishments for 889,000 individuals. Of those, 270,000 received administrative sanctions, while 680,000 were reprimanded for failing to adhere to party discipline.
To manage this intensified effort, China has expanded its infrastructure for detention. Over 200 specialized detention facilities known as "liuzhi" centers have been built or expanded across the country. Codified into law in 2018, the liuzhi system allows authorities to detain suspects, including civil servants and managers of public institutions, for up to six months without access to legal counsel.
While high-profile cases capture headlines, Xi has also stressed the need to target "flies and ants," referring to grassroots corruption among lower-level officials. The campaign has now permeated sectors from finance and energy to infrastructure, with a renewed focus on punishing those who offer bribes in addition to those who accept them.
This relentless drive against corruption serves a dual purpose. It aims to cleanse the party of graft that threatens its legitimacy and economic stability, while simultaneously removing political rivals and centralizing power firmly under Xi Jinping. As the campaign continues to expand in scope and severity, it remains a defining feature of his leadership and a powerful tool for reshaping China's political and military landscape.