At the end of 2025, 71-year-old deputy minister-level official Zhang Shiping fell from grace, becoming the 65th official publicly disclosed this year to be under investigation. She is also the 7th female senior official within the Chinese Communist Party to be investigated since the 20th National Congress.
On December 30th, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission of the Chinese Communist Party announced on their website that Zhang Shiping, former member of the Chinese All-China Federation of Trade Unions, secretary of the Secretariat, and vice chairman, is suspected of serious violations of discipline and law, and is currently undergoing disciplinary review and supervision investigation by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission.
Public information shows that Zhang Shiping was born in September 1954 in Beijing and started working in July 1970. She holds a postgraduate degree from the Central Party School. In 1973, she started working at the Xicheng District Transportation Bureau and has held various positions over the years.
Zhang Shiping has long been engaged in work for the All-China Women’s Federation, serving as Secretary of the Secretariat, as well as concurrently holding positions such as Director of the Office of the All-China Women’s Federation, Director of the China Children’s Center, Director of the Development Group Committee for Children’s Affairs of the All-China Women’s Federation, and Director of the China Women and Children’s Museum.
In 2008, Zhang Shiping served as the Director of the National Federation of Trade Unions’ Finance Review Committee and Secretary of the Secretariat of the All-China Women’s Federation. She later became the Vice Chairman of the All-China Women’s Federation (part-time) and also served as Vice Chairman of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Social and Legal Affairs Committee.
The All-China Federation of Trade Unions is not an independent trade union organization; it is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party and its main goal is to strengthen the Party’s presence in private and foreign enterprises, as well as to select Party members from among the workers.
With Zhang Shiping’s downfall, a total of 65 mid-level officials have been publicly announced for investigation by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission this year. She joins the ranks of female senior officials investigated since the 20th National Congress, following Li Weiwei, Zhao Jinyun, Liu Hui, Wang Lixia, Wu Lan, and Wang Jun.