Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s war on corruption has ensnared a record number of high-ranking officials this year, with 56 senior cadres at vice-ministerial level or above being investigated, a tally by the South China Morning Post has found.
That marks a jump of nearly 25 per cent from 2023, when 45 high-ranking officials were subject to graft probes by anti-corruption agency the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, or CCDI.
According to the Post’s analysis, corruption cases involving top party organs and ministries have doubled, while there was also an increase in cases within the aviation and defence industries.
But in 2024 there were fewer corruption cases in the finance sector – a key focus of the campaign last year.
Deng Yuwen, former deputy editor of the Study Times newspaper published by the Central Party School, said more officials were getting caught up in the campaign.
“The anti-corruption net has been cast wider while the mesh is getting smaller – so more are getting caught and fewer can slip through,” he said.