At the leadership transition, Xi Jinping became general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The new leadership elevated party discipline inspection work, setting the stage for a sustained anti-corruption campaign focused on both political control and public trust in the party-state.
The Politburo adopted the “eight-point regulation,” a set of rules aimed at reducing official extravagance, unnecessary meetings, and ceremonial activities. It became an early policy anchor for the campaign by tying anti-corruption to visible changes in officials’ daily behavior.
In widely reported remarks, Xi called for cracking down on both senior officials (“tigers”) and lower-level officials (“flies”). This framing helped define the campaign’s scope as nationwide and multi-level, rather than limited to isolated cases.
Former Politburo member Bo Xilai was sentenced to life in prison for bribery, embezzlement, and abuse of power. The high-profile case signaled that senior figures could be punished and helped build momentum for later investigations of even higher-ranking leaders.
At the Third Plenum of the 18th Central Committee, the CCP announced major reform goals under the theme of “comprehensively deepening reform.” Anti-corruption enforcement increasingly operated alongside broader governance changes, supporting tighter central control over cadres and institutions.
Former Central Military Commission vice-chairman Xu Caihou was expelled from the CCP amid a bribery investigation. The case marked a major extension of the anti-corruption drive into the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), including promotions and procurement practices.
China’s Ministry of Public Security launched “Fox Hunt” to pursue suspected economic fugitives abroad and recover illicit assets. The effort connected domestic anti-corruption enforcement to cross-border policing and international cooperation, and it later drew scrutiny in several countries.
State media announced an investigation into Zhou Yongkang for “serious disciplinary violations.” Zhou, a former Politburo Standing Committee member, had once overseen China’s domestic security apparatus; the announcement broke a long-standing taboo against investigating retired top leaders.
State media reported that Ling Jihua, a senior official and former top aide to Hu Jintao, was under investigation for suspected serious disciplinary violations. The case showed the campaign reaching into different political networks within the party.
China launched “Sky Net,” a coordinated effort to track fugitives and target illegal fund transfers abroad. It broadened the overseas component of anti-corruption work beyond individual cases, combining financial controls with law-enforcement and disciplinary bodies.
A Tianjin court sentenced Zhou Yongkang to life in prison for bribery, abuse of power, and deliberately disclosing state secrets. The conviction reinforced the message that former top-level leaders could face criminal punishment after party discipline procedures.
Xi used the phrase “always on the road” to emphasize that strict party self-governance would be continuous, not a short campaign. This message supported a shift from headline cases toward routine discipline enforcement and institutionalization.
Former Central Military Commission vice-chairman Guo Boxiong was sentenced to life in prison for accepting bribes. Together with other PLA investigations, the case highlighted corruption risks tied to promotions and internal military governance.
Xi’s political report to the 19th Party Congress described anti-corruption as central to “full and strict governance” of the CCP. The report also highlighted inspection work and the pursuit of fugitives, and it pointed toward stronger oversight structures.
After the 19th Central Committee’s first plenum, Zhao Leji became secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI). The leadership handoff marked a new phase of the campaign, with the CCDI continuing investigations while new state oversight reforms advanced.
China adopted a constitutional amendment establishing supervision commissions as state supervisory organs, including a National Commission of Supervision. This change provided constitutional backing for a major restructuring that merged and expanded anti-corruption authority across the public sector.
The National People’s Congress adopted the Supervision Law, effective the same day, formally creating the National Supervision Commission (NSC) and local commissions. The law expanded supervision beyond CCP members to many people working in the public sector, tightening centralized oversight.
China officially inaugurated the National Supervisory Commission after senior officials took an oath to the constitution. The event signaled that the campaign’s enforcement system now combined party discipline and state supervision through linked institutions.
The CCP announced the expulsion of former defense ministers Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe for corruption-related accusations, with their cases transferred for further handling. The action underscored that the anti-corruption drive continued to target senior military and procurement-related positions years after the PLA-focused push began.
By the mid-2020s, the anti-corruption campaign had become a permanent feature of CCP governance, operating through the CCDI and the supervision commissions. Reporting and investigations continued in both civilian and military systems, reinforcing a long-term model of centralized discipline enforcement rather than a time-limited crackdown.
Anti-Corruption Campaign under Xi Jinping (2012–present)