In the past half a month from July 24 to August 7, 2026, five officials from Fujian Province have been under investigation. Among them, Zhang Yigong, the Quanzhou Municipal Committee Secretary who was ousted from his position, was a former associate of the member of the CPC Politburo, He Lifeng. Both had previously governed Quanzhou City. Several officials in Quanzhou City have been under investigation since 2026.
On August 7, 2026, the official website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission reported, based on the information from the Fujian Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision, that Zhang Yigong, the Quanzhou Municipal Committee Secretary of Fujian province, is under investigation for suspected serious violations of discipline and law.
Public reports indicate that on August 4, Zhang Yigong went to Jinjiang and Fengze to supervise and inspect work safety measures.
According to his public resume, Zhang Yigong, born in October 1968 in Xiamen, Fujian, worked in his hometown of Xiamen for 32 years. He held various positions such as Deputy Secretary of the Xiang’an District Committee and Vice District Governor, Chairman of the District Political Consultative Conference, Vice Secretary of the Huli District Committee, District Governor, and District Committee Secretary of Xiamen City.
In 2016, Zhang Yigong became the Deputy Mayor of Xiamen City, then in December 2019, he was appointed as a member of the Standing Committee of the Xiamen Municipal Committee and the Minister of the United Front Work Department. In October 2021, he became a member of the Standing Committee of the Xiamen Municipal Committee and the Secretary of the Tong’an District Committee, then in November 2021, he served as the Deputy Secretary of the Xiamen Municipal Committee and concurrently as the Secretary of the Tong’an District Committee. In November 2022, he ceased being the Secretary of the Tong’an District Committee; in January 2023, he was transferred to become the Secretary of the Quanzhou Municipal Committee, where he is now under investigation.
Zhang Yigong faced a political warning while serving as the Deputy Mayor of Xiamen due to issues related to the direct discharge of a large amount of domestic sewage and inadequate rectification measures in 2021.
One month before, on July 9, 2026, a fire in a shoe factory in Jinjiang, a city under the jurisdiction of Quanzhou, resulted in at least 28 deaths. It is unknown whether Zhang Yigong’s investigation is related to the fire incident.
Zhang Yigong has served in various positions across Xiamen and Quanzhou, with several other officials in Quanzhou being investigated in recent years. The investigations suggest a broader pattern of scrutiny within the region.
Amidst these investigations, there have been multiple high-ranking officials in Fujian Province who have been removed from their positions. The circumstances of these dismissals and investigations have raised concerns about potential corruption and breaches of discipline among government officials.
The case of Zhang Yigong underscores the ongoing efforts to address corruption and misconduct within the ranks of the Chinese Communist Party. By shedding light on these investigations, authorities aim to uphold integrity and accountability in governance.