The latest report on the website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Chinese Communist Party (CCDI) revealed that Yi Lianhong, the Deputy Director of the Finance and Economic Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress of the CCP, is suspected of “serious violations of discipline and law” and is currently under review and investigation. This marks the first public report on a current deputy director of a special committee of the National People’s Congress within this term.
Yi Lianhong, who previously served as the Provincial Party Secretary in Zhejiang and Jiangxi, being investigated has long been a topic of discussion within the political circle in Beijing. A source in mainland China, Mr. Qin, mentioned that even before the 20th National Congress of the CPC, Yi Lianhong’s career trajectory was on a rapid rise: “Yi Lianhong was a key figure in the upper echelons of power. He became the Acting Governor of Liaoning Province in 2018, the Governor the following year, and was appointed as the Provincial Party Secretary of Jiangxi in 2021. I heard that he had been under investigation since last year.”
Mr. Qin disclosed that Yi Lianhong’s investigation during his tenure is believed to be related to his engaging in clique activities according to high-level officials: “It is said that wherever he went, he formed relationships and promoted his own people, forming cliques in Liaoning, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang. This is what angered the top leadership the most. His investigation did not come as a surprise to many within the circle.”
The CCDI’s report on February 10 did not disclose the specific details of Yi Lianhong’s “violations of discipline and law,” nor did it mention the time frame of the case. According to convention, once the disciplinary review is completed, the case will be transferred to the procuratorate for investigation, and eventually brought to court for trial.
Mr. Chi, an independent scholar at Peking University, noted in an interview that the recent trend of numerous officials being investigated is related to the political environment: “From Zhang Youxia, Liu Zhenli, and several officials at ministerial level being investigated, we can distinctly see that a new round of power struggles is taking place before the two sessions. In these actions, we can also feel that Yi Lianhong is by no means the last minister to be investigated before the two sessions, and more investigations will follow.”
Public records indicate that Yi Lianhong, born in 1959 in Hunan, has served in various capacities in Hunan, Liaoning, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang, including positions as Party Secretary of Changsha, Party Secretary of Shenyang, Governor of Jiangxi Province, Provincial Party Secretary of Jiangxi, and Provincial Party Secretary of Zhejiang. After stepping down as Provincial Party Secretary of Zhejiang in 2024, he transitioned to the position of Deputy Director of the Finance and Economic Committee of the National People’s Congress, entering the system of the National People’s Congress.
According to official reports, during his tenure in Jiangxi, Yi Lianhong focused on economic and financial affairs, while in Zhejiang, he was responsible for local development and industrial layout. The Finance and Economic Committee, where he currently holds a position, primarily handles financial legislation, budget review, and other related tasks.
Commentator Mr. Zhou remarked, “In recent years, most officials who have been investigated are either in office or have retired from provincial or ministerial positions, but many recently fallen officials are still in office, indicating a deliberate move by the top leadership. The series of similar incidents that have emerged recently also reflect changes within the top leadership, making the situation somewhat unpredictable.”
A report by Dajiyuan the day before mentioned that since January 1, 2026, more than 40 high-ranking officials, including two deputy national-level officials, have been investigated. Some commentators view the fall of these individuals as an outward manifestation of changes in the power structure of the CCP’s top leadership.
Recently, the CCDI has continued to release information on the review of provincial and ministerial officials, with several high-ranking officials from local Party committees and government systems being investigated. The reports during the investigative phase generally only use the phrase “suspected serious violations of discipline and law,” without providing specific details. Scholars and netizens have offered differing opinions on this matter.
Some netizens commented on social media, saying, “It’s another provincial-level official, indicating that the anti-corruption campaign is still ongoing.” Others believe that with limited information currently available on the cases, they would need to await further authoritative releases.
Based on his public resume, Yi Lianhong is a member of the 20th Central Committee of the CCP, having been in leadership roles in local governments for a long time until transitioning into the National People’s Congress system. His current investigation signals a significant turning point in his political career. The further progress of the case and whether it involves his previous positions are still pending further announcements from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission.