On July 25th, a retired teacher in Jiangxi Province reported to the authorities that Mao Qi, the Party Secretary of Wannian County in Shangrao City, was allegedly involved in sexually assaulting a female subordinate.
The whistleblower, Li Changliu, released a video accusing Mao Qi. He stated that he is a retired teacher from Wannian County and his daughter, Li Peixia, used to be the former Party Secretary of Shangxiang Township in the same county. On May 23, 2024, a dispute erupted between Li Peixia and Mao Qi, during which she threatened to report Mao Qi to the provincial disciplinary committee and mentioned having incriminating recordings of him. Three days later, Li Peixia was taken away by the disciplinary committee of Wannian County, and all electronic devices containing evidence against Mao Qi were confiscated.
Li Changliu revealed that prior to his daughter being taken away, she left a USB drive for her family, telling them that it could save her life. According to the content of the USB drive and information she had shared with her family, they learned that Mao Qi had been using his authority to suppress, intimidate, and sexually harass Li Peixia.
Li Changliu believed that his daughter’s attempt to report Mao Qi led to retaliation against her. Concerned about his daughter being detained by the disciplinary committee for two months without any communication, he decided to publicly report Mao Qi’s illegal actions.
Subsequently, Li Changliu also released three audio recordings from the USB drive online. He informed Pengpai News that there were a total of eight recordings on the USB drive and expressed his hope for higher-level disciplinary committees to investigate the matter. He pledged to provide all the recordings in due course.
Following Li Peixia’s detainment, on June 17, the official WeChat account of the Shangrao City disciplinary committee announced her investigation. The message stated that Li Peixia was suspected of serious violations and was undergoing scrutiny and investigation.
The news sparked heated discussions online. Netizens expressed their views, with some questioning the accusation of serious violations against Li Peixia and speculating on potential power struggles and attempts to gather evidence against her or control her.
The situation has raised concerns among the public, with comments reflecting unease about the alleged abuse of power and lack of transparency. Some remarked on the darkness of the situation and the challenges faced by those trying to report misconduct or resist the abuse of authority. The unfolding events have led to widespread debates and reflections on the realities of such circumstances in China.