Recently, the tragedies of several Chinese entrepreneurs committing suicide have once again brought attention to the “retention” system of the CCP disciplinary system.
According to Chinese media reports, up to now this year, four entrepreneurs in the home decoration industry have successively committed suicide, on April 16, June 2, July 17, and July 27 respectively. These four individuals were all over fifty years old, at the peak of their careers, and all chose to end their lives shortly after being released from “retention”.
The latest case is Wang Linpeng, former wealthiest man in Hubei and chairman of Beijing Juriah Smart Home, who jumped from the corporate headquarters building on July 23, just four days after being released.
Reportedly, prominent entrepreneurs in Guangzhou, Zeng Yuzhou, founder of Liangjiaju, Liu Wenchao, CEO of Xizi Elevator, Bi Guangjun, chairman of Shaoxing Golden Idea Textile, and Wang Linpeng, have all been under investigation by the discipline inspection commission during the retention period and chose to end their lives quickly after release. Investigations into these companies are still ongoing. Public information reveals that several more individuals in the home decoration industry are under retention, but details are vague.
Normally, the investigative and disciplinary targets of the discipline inspection commission are mainly CCP members. However, since the promulgation of the National Supervision Law in 2018, its authority has significantly expanded, encompassing various sectors of Chinese society, including non-Party member entrepreneurs.
The “retention” system utilized by the discipline inspection commission allows the organization to bypass the judicial system and secretly detain the subject of investigation for up to 6 months or longer.
Implemented in March 2018, the retention system saw the first known case of torture resulting in death just one and a half months later.
On April 9, 2018, 45-year-old driver Chen Yong was retained by the Fujian Provincial Supervision Commission, only because of his former supervisor’s involvement in a case. On May 5, Chen Yong suddenly collapsed during questioning and was declared dead in the evening. Family members described his body with twisted facial features, a collapsed chest, and bruising around the waist, but authorities refused to provide interrogation footage. Caixin initially reported on the case but it was quickly deleted.
According to the human rights organization “Safeguard Defenders”, under the isolated detention system of retention, torture is widespread. During this period, detainees are unable to obtain legal assistance, nor is there any external supervision. International law considers this enforced disappearance and isolated detention as torture.
From 2023 to 2025, cases of entrepreneurs being retained have been on the rise. In 2023, about 78 chairpersons or controlling shareholders of A-share listed companies were investigated or penalized, with many being retained.
In 2024, the disciplinary investigations by the discipline inspection commission grew by 40%, with a total of 38,000 individuals formally retained, an increase of at least 46% compared to 2023. Among these, 17,000 individuals from the financial industry, 94,000 from state-owned enterprises, and 60,000 from the pharmaceutical industry faced disciplinary actions. The average retention rate is about 4.33%, but the pressure on the group of entrepreneurs is particularly evident. A report indicated that 106 senior executives of listed companies were subjected to coercive measures, with nearly 60% being investigated or retained.
In the first half of 2025, at least 19 entrepreneurs were retained. In mid-August, within just a few days, at least five individuals were retained: Pi Yu, general manager of Daming Data, Liu Jiande, director of Coser Technology, Yue Yamei, general manager of Xiling Information, Chen Baoxiao, chairman of Guotai Environmental Protection, and another senior executive of Daming Data, Chen Wen.