China’s Anti-Corruption Campaign Expands Targets
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China's Anti-Corruption Campaign Expands Targets
- China's anti-corruption campaign, initiated in 2012 by President Xi Jinping, has led to the prosecution of approximately 2.3 million government officials as of 2023.
- The campaign has increasingly focused on regional governments, with 60% of senior officials targeted between 2013 and 2025 serving in such roles, and has even extended to investigators themselves, as seen with former Justice Minister Tang Yijun who was placed under investigation in May 2024.
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China’s extensive anti-corruption campaign, launched in November 2012 under President Xi Jinping, has broadened its scope to encompass a wider range of officials, including those in regional governments, retired cadres, and even internal anti-graft investigators. This initiative, a cornerstone of Xi’s governance, aims to curb corruption within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and reinforce internal unity.
Initially, the campaign focused on both high-ranking “tigers” and lower-level “flies.” Over the years, it has intensified, with anti-corruption agencies punishing 983,000 individuals in 2025 alone, a figure that includes warnings, investigations, and criminal prosecutions. The number of senior officials investigated in 2025 was three times higher than in 2013. A significant portion of these investigations, 60% between 2013 and 2025, have targeted senior officials in regional government roles. The median age of targeted officials was 60, the typical retirement age for deputy provincial ranks, indicating a focus on individuals who might have previously felt secure in retirement.
The campaign has also turned its attention inward, with the Party urging anti-corruption investigation agencies like the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) and the National Supervisory Commission (NSC) to “turn the blade inwards.” This has resulted in investigations into figures such as former Justice Minister Tang Yijun in May 2024 and Hao Zongqiang, the deputy head of CCDI’s publicity department. The campaign has also targeted various sectors, including the military, medical sector, land management, and financial institutions. In August 2026, China’s top legislature began reviewing a draft law to enhance efforts against cross-border corruption, further expanding the campaign’s reach.