Amid the public disclosure of multiple officials being investigated by the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission, insiders within the system have revealed that the latest round of the so-called anti-corruption campaign is not only targeting “tigers” at the provincial and ministerial levels, but also key officials at the prefectural and municipal levels, especially mayors, public security bureau chiefs, and other top leaders.
Zhao Qian (pseudonym), an insider within the CCP system, disclosed to The Epoch Times that after New Year’s Day, the ongoing anti-corruption investigation is gradually descending to the local levels. She said, “Now it’s not just investigating the provincial and ministerial levels, but also delving further down. At the prefectural and municipal levels, especially key figures like mayors and public security bureau chiefs, they have been put under the spotlight.”
Zhao Qian mentioned that in recent times, many localities have been busy preparing materials, reconciling accounts, and some individuals have been repeatedly asked to explain the sources of their assets, “It’s not about immediately arresting people, but first understanding the situation and seeing who can’t withstand the investigation.”
The CCP recently announced the investigation of several officials. On November 26, 2025, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission reported that Wang Fengchao, Deputy Secretary of the Chengdu Municipal Party Committee and Mayor of Chengdu, Sichuan Province, is suspected of serious violations of discipline and law and is under investigation. On December 2, the Yunnan Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision announced that Lei Chuying, Deputy Governor of Dali Prefecture in Yunnan Province and concurrently Director of the Prefecture Public Security Bureau, is suspected of serious violations of discipline and law and is undergoing investigation. The announcement also involved several local government officials undergoing investigation, including officials from the prefectural public security system.
A retired civil servant in Zhengzhou, Mr. Yu, told reporters that over the past month, the attendance of government officials at public events in the district has significantly decreased. Some local leaders have become low-key recently, and matters that require decisions have started to be postponed.
“Many people have a premonition that the anti-corruption campaign is going to target lower levels, so they try to stay low-profile,” Mr. Yu said. He believes that the issues of some grassroots officials are not isolated cases, “The various government departments are all corrupt to the core. While the common people are struggling to make ends meet, they are surrounded by a bunch of problems on the other side. Everyone is well aware of these issues in private.”
An informed source within the system in Tianjin informed The Epoch Times that at the end of last year, an insider from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection had privately disclosed that in 2026, the authorities will further intensify the so-called anti-corruption efforts. He said, “They claim it’s about improving the leadership system and enhancing the Party’s internal regulations, but in reality, it’s about purging and investigating a group of people.”
There are already signs of the CCP’s high-level deployment of the “anti-corruption” campaign in 2026. According to Xinhua News Agency, on December 25, 2025, the Central Political Bureau of the CCP held a meeting to discuss and deploy the construction of Party conduct, integrity, and the fight against corruption in 2026. The meeting emphasized the continuous advancement of Party conduct, integrity, and anti-corruption efforts, maintaining a high-pressure stance against corruption, and making arrangements regarding political supervision, improving work styles, and the operation of power.
A source from the Beijing Municipal Third Procuratorate, responsible for prosecuting corrupt officials, who requested anonymity, told reporters that in recent times, many places have initiated asset checks and problem-solving investigations targeting major officials at the municipal, district, and county levels. The scope of the investigations includes real estate, family members engaged in business, investment relationships, and various interests related to engineering projects, “This year’s task in Beijing has already been assigned, and the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection is investigating.”
The anonymous source mentioned that unlike previous focus on handling “typical cases,” this round of investigations emphasizes “systematic review.” Some regions have been required to conduct background checks and financial investigations on newly appointed major officials in recent years in order to identify potential problems early, “It’s not just about targeting those who have already had issues but closely monitoring positions that are prone to problems.”
Publicly available data shows that the proportion of officials at the prefectural and municipal levels among those who have fallen from grace according to the announcements made by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission has increased. This includes many mayors, deputy mayors, and key figures in the public security system. The announcements generally summarize the cases as involving “serious violations of discipline and law,” without disclosing specific details.
The current anti-corruption trends in mainland China have sparked various interpretations in public opinion. Some netizens believe that extending the investigation downwards will help curb corruption at the grassroots level, while others point out that whether the anti-corruption campaign truly touches upon institutional issues still requires observation. Most agree that the current anti-corruption efforts are only treating symptoms without addressing the root cause, leading to more corrupt officials being exposed.
When Mr. Yu discussed official corruption, he became emotional and told reporters, “The Communist Party has been shouting about anti-corruption for so many years, yet the problems continue to proliferate layer by layer, indicating that it’s not just a few individuals but the entire system that tolerates it. If they really want to combat corruption, they should start by reforming the system. What we, the common people, need is a democratic system, not an unrestrained system of power. No matter how fierce the rhetoric from the top, it’s just for show.”