On May 24, six officials were officially named and investigated for corruption, among them former deputy director of the Standing Committee of the Sanya Municipal People’s Congress, Lin Youchi, who were found to have violated regulations by accepting gifts of Maotai liquor from management service targets or consuming vintage Maotai liquor. The other two individuals received gifts like Cordyceps sinensis and Wuliangye liquor.
According to the report, from 2016 to 2019, Lin Youchi repeatedly accepted gifts like Maotai liquor, Huawei phones, and cash from management service targets. From 2020 to 2024, Lin Youchi was found to have violated regulations by accepting banquets arranged by management service targets within a certain media limited company’s cafeteria and consuming vintage Maotai liquor.
Lin Youchi previously served as the Secretary-General of the Sanya Municipal Government, Secretary of the Yai Prefecture Party Committee, and Secretary of the Tianya District Party Committee. He became the deputy director of the Standing Committee of the Sanya Municipal People’s Congress in 2019 and was investigated in July 2024. In January 2025, he was expelled from the party.
“Vintage Maotai” refers to a series of products launched by Guizhou Maotai Company that are blended according to specific “vintage” standards, such as Maotai 15 years, Maotai 30 years, Maotai 50 years, and Maotai 80 years.
The investigation report indicates that Lin Youchi engaged in private relationships within the party, acted independently, and used his power to unlawfully solicit money, representing a typical case where political and economic issues intertwine in corruption.
The other five officials named were Wu Qifang, a Level II researcher at the Forest Fire Department of the Hainan Forestry Bureau; Long Shuhua, former Level I researcher at the Natural Resources and Planning Bureau of Haikou City; Zhou Zhijian, former party member of the Science and Technology Association of Chengmai County; Guo Xing, former manager of the Qionghai City Water Company, and Wang Fuhai, former director of the Environmental Health Management Station in Xinying Town, Lingao County.
Maotai liquor, once labeled as the “national liquor” by the Chinese Communist Party and associated with its red traditional ideology, had long been a special supply reserved for specific social classes and occasions. However, in recent years, as part of the anticorruption campaign within the party, it has become a taboo item in official circles, with many senior officials brought down due to Maotai-related corruption scandals.
In the Chinese Communist Party’s officialdom, offering or consuming Maotai liquor serves not only as a display of wealth but also as a form of political recognition and social status. In this environment, Maotai liquor functions as an unspoken “VIP pass.”
The practices of “public fund consumption” and “exchanging goods for favors” are widespread in officialdom. Many officials do not personally bear the cost of consuming Maotai but instead use public funds for reimbursement or receive gifts from others. In the networking-focused environment of the Chinese Communist Party, gift-giving is a common way to maintain relationships, gain advantages, and seek privileges. Due to its high price and special status, Maotai liquor has become a valuable commodity among gifts, allowing gift-givers to express their sincerity and importance, thus paving the way for rent-seeking opportunities.