After only 9 months in office, Li Gang, the Director of the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Team stationed at the Central Organization Department of the CCP’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, has been removed from his position.
According to a report on September 30 by the website of the CCP Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission, Li Gang, Director of the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Team stationed at the Central Organization Department of the CCP Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission, is suspected of serious violations of discipline and law, and is currently under investigation.
Public records show that Li Gang was born in July 1965 in Dayi County, Sichuan Province. He started working in December 1982, graduated with a degree in Business Administration from the University of Electronic Science and Technology, and earned a master’s degree in economics from the Central Party School.
Li Gang worked in Sichuan for many years, holding positions such as Deputy County Magistrate of Dayi County, Deputy Secretary of the County Party Committee, Deputy Secretary and County Magistrate of Wenjiang County, Secretary of the Wenjiang District Committee in Chengdu, Chairman of the District, and Chairman of the District People’s Congress Standing Committee. He also served as Director of the Investment Promotion Bureau of Sichuan Province, Secretary of the Bazhong Municipal Party Committee, Secretary of the Zigong Municipal Party Committee, and Director of the Sichuan Provincial Development and Reform Commission.
From August 2020 to July 2021, Li Gang served as Deputy Governor of Sichuan Province; from July 2021 to October 2023, he was the Minister of the Organization Department of the Yunnan Provincial Party Committee.
In January 2024, Li Gang attended a public event as the Director of the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Team stationed at the Central Organization Department of the CCP Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission. It is reported that Li Gang was promoted by the Secretary of the Commission for Discipline Inspection, Li Xi, to the position of Director of the Discipline Inspection Team stationed at the Central Organization Department, but he was announced to have been removed from his post only after 9 months.
Columnist Yue Shan of Epoch Times pointed out that Li Gang had only recently left Yunnan Province in January 2024 to take on the role as the Director of the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Team stationed at the Central Organization Department of the CCP Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission. Being investigated after just 9 months is a clear slap in the face to Li Xi.
Yue Shan believes that Li Gang’s rise from a local position to a central one was undoubtedly recommended by Li Ganjie, the Minister of the Organization Department, but it was ultimately Li Xi’s choice. The swift removal of Li Gang not only illustrates the seemingly pervasive issue of corruption within the CCP but also highlights Li Xi’s poor judgment in personnel selection. This situation echoes that of Xi Jinping’s trusted aide Qin Gang, as well as Li Shangfu, whom he personally vetted, and a large number of Central Committee members. The lack of judgement in personnel selection within the entire upper echelon of the CCP is indicative of systemic issues in the CCP’s employment practices.