In a shocking case of corruption, the former Vice Secretary of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region, Li Pengxin, is currently standing trial for bribery involving over 8.22 billion yuan. Li Pengxin was alleged to be a close confidante of Zhao Leji, a member of the CCP Central Political Bureau Standing Committee, who promoted him in Qinghai.
On January 9th, the Intermediate People’s Court of Baoji City in Shaanxi Province publicly held the first trial of Li Pengxin’s bribery case.
The Baoji City Prosecutor’s Office charged Li Pengxin with taking advantage of his positions from 1999 to 2023, including Vice Secretary of the Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Committee in Qinghai, Secretary of the Geremu City Committee, Secretary of the Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Committee, Secretary of the Qinghai Provincial Committee and Political and Legal Affairs Committee, Standing Committee Member and Minister of Organization of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Party Committee, Vice Secretary of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Party Committee, and deputy provincial-level cadres in Qinghai, using his power and influence to assist units and individuals in mineral development, business operations, and the selection and appointment of cadres. It is alleged that he received a total of more than 8.22 billion yuan in illegal funds directly or through intermediaries.
The prosecution requested that Li Pengxin be held criminally responsible for the crime of bribery.
Li Pengxin pleaded guilty in court, and the sentencing will be announced at a later date.
Li Pengxin was officially investigated on December 11, 2023, and subsequently subjected to disciplinary sanctions and handed over to judicial authorities on June 17, 2024.
At the time of the investigation, Li Pengxin was accused of cultivating personal power, engaging in the “seven have,” failing to truthfully explain issues, selling official positions, long-term illegal acceptance of gifts and money, engaging in rampant corruption, colluding with the business sector, and using his position to benefit others in mineral development, business operations, and cadre selection and appointment, illegally accepting substantial assets such as stocks and shares.
The “seven have” referred to Xi Jinping’s summary of party officials at the Second Plenary Session of the Fourth Central Committee of the 18th CPC in October 2014. It includes engaging in favoritism towards family and cronies, forming cliques, spreading rumors anonymously, buying hearts and manipulating votes, engaging in corrupt practices, being arbitrary and secretive, and being arrogant and defying Central authority.
Li Pengxin is said to have had close ties with Zhao Leji, the current member of the CCP Central Political Bureau Standing Committee.
After Li Pengxin’s downfall, Wang Ruiqin (Wang Anna), a mainland entrepreneur exiled in the United States and former member of the Qinghai Provincial CPPCC, posted on platform X stating that Li Pengxin and Luo Yulin, a former deputy ministerial-level official of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council who had also fallen from grace, were both former subordinates of Zhao Leji in Qinghai. She mentioned that they had deep roots in Qinghai politics for over thirty years and had a mutual understanding.
Wang Ruiqin suggested that Li Pengxin’s capture can be seen as part of the campaign against Zhao Leji, and the cleansing process targeting Zhao is still ongoing.
Born in December 1960 in Shenchi, Shanxi Province, Li Pengxin has held positions in Qinghai, Inner Mongolia, and the Xinjiang Autonomous Region. He has served as Qinghai Provincial Committee Standing Committee Member and Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee, Secretary of the Haixi Prefecture Party Committee, and Standing Committee Member and Minister of the Organization Department of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Party Committee. He has worked in Qinghai for over 30 years.