Within the 40 days from January 1st to February 9th, 2026, at least 25 high-ranking officials and executives in key areas of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) have been reported to be under investigation, review, or processing related cases. Public records show that in just the month of January, at least 10 current and retired ministerial and vice-ministerial officials were investigated, a number higher than in previous years, raising intriguing questions.
According to information released by the CCP Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and local disciplinary inspection and supervision agencies, of the aforementioned 25 individuals, there are 2 vice-ministerial officials, 5 ministerial officials, and the remaining 18 are vice-ministerial and below staff. The two vice-ministerial officials include Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the CCP Central Military Commission, and Liu Zhenli, Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Department of the CCP Central Military Commission.
In terms of ministerial officials, Wang Xiangxi, Secretary of the Party Committee and Minister of the Ministry of Emergency Management, has been reported to be under review and investigation. The cases of Sun Shaocheng, former Secretary of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Party Committee, and Tang Yijun, former Minister of the Ministry of Justice, have entered judicial proceedings. Gu Jun, former General Manager of China National Nuclear Corporation, was disclosed to be under investigation. Gu Jun held a position in a central state-owned enterprise and was managed at the ministerial level.
Furthermore, Lin Jingzhen, former Deputy President of the Bank of China, has been expelled from the party. Other individuals under investigation are spread across the local party and government system, the military, financial institutions, state-owned enterprises, as well as the judiciary system, research institutions, and universities, among other units. Relevant information has been successively announced by various departments and compiled by the media.
An informant Mr. Ye told Epoch Times that the frequency and pace of officials being investigated during this period are unusual in recent years. He stated, “They usually don’t disclose it so frequently. They (officials) also consider the reaction of the people. If they catch too many, the people will wonder why so many corrupt officials are within the Communist Party. Twenty years ago, there were only 5 or 6 ministerial officials investigated in a year, and most of the time it was around the time of the annual sessions. Now we have 5 in just one month; this different pace may aim to deter high-ranking officials.”
Mr. Ye also mentioned the appearance of two vice-ministerial officials in the cases disclosed in January, a situation not commonly seen. He commented, “Handling high-level cases before the annual meetings has a clear timetable, clearing obstacles for this year’s personnel arrangements at the upcoming meetings.”
After reviewing public records, it is noted that the notifications come from various departments and regions, rather than being concentrated in one place. News about high-level military officials in late January has sparked discussions, with some observers focusing on personnel changes within the military commission system.
Independent Chinese scholar Cui Kai (pseudonym) told reporters that the recent actions of the CCP’s top leadership have affected the military command system, with subsequent impacts still unfolding, and personnel arrangements within the National People’s Congress and the State Council are also being closely watched. He said, “This wave of adjustments will not end quickly. There is still ongoing power struggle at the top, and it will likely continue until around the annual meetings in early March, or even until the plenary session scheduled for October, to gradually stabilize the situation.”
Regarding the investigation of current ministerial officials, Cui Kai believes that such notifications are often interpreted internally within the system as warnings. He remarked, “When such news comes out, it signals that discipline is still tightening. The State Council system is currently adjusting by requiring individuals who need to align closely with the central leadership for reasons you understand.”
As February progresses, the notifications continue. On February 1st, Zhang Guangqin, former full-time member of the Hainan High People’s Court, was investigated. Subsequently, Bai Wen, former member of the Economic Committee of the Beijing Municipal Political Consultative Conference, Qian Hu, Deputy District Head of Dazu District, Chongqing, and Jiang Yulin, General Manager of the Audit Center of China Citic Bank in Shanghai, were successively reported to be under investigation. On February 3rd, Lian Ji, former President of the China Academy of Art, was investigated. On February 7th, Xu Yiding, Deputy President of the Agricultural Development Bank of China, was reported to be under disciplinary review and supervision investigation.
Jiangxi financial scholar Mr. Hong told reporters that this round of disclosed cases involves the judiciary, finance, culture, and local administrative systems, and is not concentrated in a particular area. He mentioned, “It is said that they are reviewing officials and cases from ten to twenty years ago. It is also heard that some officials embezzled tens of millions, hundreds of millions, or even billions of RMB.”
According to the data released on January 17th by the CCP Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission’s website, in 2025, national disciplinary inspection and supervision agencies opened 1.012 million cases, involving 115 officials at the provincial and ministerial level or above. The total number of disciplinary actions reached 983,000, including 69 officials at the provincial and ministerial level or above. In addition, 33,000 bribery cases were opened during the year, with 4,306 people referred to the procuratorate.
Many interviewees mentioned that this round of actions is different from the past in terms of timing, levels of involvement, and system distribution. The frequent disclosure of high-level cases has shifted public attention towards the upcoming personnel changes.