What’s new: Two more current and former top-level officials from Qujing, a prefecture-level city in Southwest China’s Yunnan province, have been placed under graft probes, the latest among scores from the local government leadership investigated in the past 18 months.
The duo — Vice Mayor Chen Zhi and a former vice chairman of the city’s people’s congress standing committee, Bi Shangpeng — are being investigated by the Yunnan Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection (YCDI), according to statements published by the graft buster on Tuesday.
The announcements came after Yunnan’s Executive Vice Governor Li Shisong, who once served as party chief of the city, fell under probe in June. Also this year, the chairman of the city’s legislature and a former deputy party secretary turned themselves in to anti-corruption investigators, while another vice mayor was also placed under probe.
What’s more: At least 46 current or former officials in Qujing have been investigated since October 2022 following the party’s 20th National Congress, a twice-a-decade political gathering where the party elects its new central leadership.
Three other prominent figures based in Qujing are also being investigated for “serious violations of discipline and law” — a common euphemism for corruption — according to separate statements from the YCDI on Tuesday.
They include a senior judge of Qujing Intermediate People’s Court, the chairman of state-owned Qujing Development Investment Group Co. Ltd., and chairman of the political consultative body of Shizong county. They will be investigated by the Qujing Commission for Discipline Inspection, the statements said.
Contact reporter Kelly Wang (jingzhewang@caixin.com) and editor Jonathan Breen (jonathanbreen@caixin.com)
