Recently, in Hunan Province’s Lengshuijiang City, former petition official Fan Xihua was investigated by the Chinese Communist Party for assisting petitioners. On October 2nd, Fan Xihua publicly announced his withdrawal from the party on the Epoch Times Quitting the Party website and stated that he had received death threats, emphasizing that he would never commit suicide. This incident has sparked attention online.
Fan Xihua, a former deputy section-level official at the Petition Bureau Adjustment Center in Lengshuijiang City, was reported by the CCP on September 26th for assisting petitioners and subsequently faced disciplinary action, including expulsion from the Party. Authorities accused him of providing assistance to petitioners by writing or editing petition materials, encouraging petitioners to petition repeatedly, and using his position to help petitioners, which they claimed damaged the image and credibility of the CCP.
A week later, late in the night on October 2nd, Fan Xihua’s name appeared on the Epoch Times Quitting the Party website, where he left two short articles: a “withdrawal from the Party statement” and an “epilogue.”
In his withdrawal from the Party statement, Fan Xihua admitted to the charges brought against him by the authorities and expressed his willingness to accept the consequences for helping petitioners, stating that he wouldn’t refute the accusations.
Currently, he has been expelled from the Party and his government position. In his withdrawal from the Party statement, he emphasized his separation from the Chinese Communist Party, revoked and nullified his oath of joining the Party, severed all ties with the Party organization, and reclaimed his freedom of belief.
In the “epilogue” he added to his withdrawal from the Party statement, Fan Xihua revealed that he received death threats and his internet connection was cut off. He mentioned incidents like his packages being taken away by unidentified individuals and plainclothes officers searching through trash near his home with metal detectors.
He also mentioned not having ordered any takeout that day but someone still came knocking at his door claiming to deliver food. Consequently, he didn’t open the door, turned off his phone, and had not spoken to anyone for two days.
He felt compelled to leave a message stating that if he were to disappear, he would not willingly commit suicide, jump off a building, or take poison as he believes in justice and accountability, with documenting persecution being a way to protect himself.
As Fan Xihua was reported by the Chinese authorities, it remains unclear whether he has been detained. Lengshuijiang City is a county-level city under the administration of Loudi City in Hunan Province. The Epoch Times reporter attempted to contact local offices such as the Petition Office, Municipal Government, Public Security Bureau, and Municipal Administrative Service Center for confirmation but was unable to reach anyone by the time of publication.
While the official report on Fan Xihua did not mention detention or being taken away, a mainland lawyer noted that the withdrawal from the Party statement seemed authentic, and the events described in the “epilogue” might indeed be taking place at his residence. However, the lawyer found it somewhat baffling that Fan Xihua was currently at home. Speculation arose that perhaps he didn’t have any corruption-related material that would warrant his arrest.
Additionally, a Beijing media person informed the Epoch Times that the fact that Fan Xihua wasn’t detained after being investigated was considered fortunate according to the standards of the petition bureau.
The latest developments regarding Fan Xihua are still being verified by Epoch Times reporters, and updates will be provided as information becomes available.
The news of this petition official has garnered significant attention on various social media platforms in mainland China. By searching for keywords like Fan Xihua, Petition Bureau, or Lengshuijiang, users can find a plethora of related content including updates on the Fan Xihua case, progress in the investigation, detailed violations by Fan Xihua, outcome of the handling of the case, final resolution of the Fan Xihua case, verdict of the Fan Xihua case, among others.
Numerous netizens have created programs supporting Fan Xihua, calling for justice openly and expressing discontent. There are comments questioning why he was the only one being punished for helping petitioners and condemning the authorities for their actions.
Fan Xihua’s full withdrawal from the Party statement reads:
“I am a former employee of the Petition Office in Lengshuijiang City, Hunan Province. Recently, I was expelled from the Chinese Communist Party for assisting petitioners. The Party’s disciplinary action against me includes accusations of providing assistance to petitioners, manipulating petition materials, and damaging the image and credibility of the CCP.
I fully acknowledge these accusations. The charges against me are appropriate, as I broke the law by assisting petitioners. I am willing to accept responsibility for my actions without objections or grievances.
I have now been involuntarily separated from the CCP and have regained my freedom. Seizing this opportunity, I would like to officially announce my withdrawal from the Chinese Communist Party, revoke and nullify my Party oath, sever all ties with Party organizations, and restore my personal freedom of belief.
Signatory: Fan Xihua”
Date: October 2, 2025, 23:13
Lengshuijiang City, Hunan Province