Communist Party enforcers punished nearly a million people in 2025, the highest annual figure on record and more than five times the number reported when Xi Jinping took power, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of disciplinary statements published by the party’s top internal watchdog.
The Journal reviewed more than 940 disciplinary findings against officials published by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection from 2013 through this May. The data shows how Xi’s purges have evolved from focusing on economic crimes and moral lapses — bribery, embezzlement, and adultery — to include wide-ranging political offenses, such as defying Xi’s directives or forming factions that could undermine Beijing’s authority. Charge sheets grew into lengthy, moralizing denunciations that castigated officials for failing to stay committed to the party.
Xi laid down a marker in late 2014 when he expelled Zhou Yongkang, a retired security czar and former member of the top leadership, for corruption and violations of “political discipline” — the first time party enforcers singled out such wrongdoing. Thereafter, allegations of “disloyalty to the party” began appearing more regularly, and inspectors increasingly punished officials for failing to execute party directives or feigning compliance.
More than 160 of the 940-plus punished officials — over one in six — were cited for engaging in superstitious activities and beliefs, which the officially atheist party prohibits. According to party commentaries and state media, such activities include praying to gods, fortunetelling, physiognomy, consulting spiritual gurus, and practicing feng shui.
The case of Bai Xueshan, a former Communist Party chief of the Ningxia regional government, illustrates the superstition-related charges. Bai was accused of spending large sums on construction projects’ feng shui and ordered a fountain in front of a municipal government square rebuilt several times. “Every time the fountain is built and starts spraying water, he would say it was very good. Then within a few days, he would angrily demand that it be demolished and rebuilt,” a retired local cadre told Chinese media, according to the Journal’s account. Bai was expelled from the party in December 2015 and sentenced to 15 years in jail in April 2017.
The experience of several former officials, all of whom pleaded guilty and expressed remorse in court, shows how the campaign has expanded. Lu Wei, former head of China’s internet regulator, was investigated in November 2017. The party cited more than two dozen allegations against him, including “selective implementation” of the party’s cyber policies, disloyalty, “feigning compliance while defying orders,” frequently visiting private clubs, accepting bribes, and abusing power for sexual favors. Lu was expelled in February 2018 and sentenced to 14 years imprisonment.
Li Zaiyoung, former vice governor of Guizhou province, was investigated in March 2023. The party cited about two dozen allegations, including deviating from the party’s major policies, engaging in vanity projects, and recklessly raising debt. As a municipal party boss from 2013 to 2017, Li pursued 23 tourism projects, 16 of which were later listed as inefficient and idle, including some half-built or abandoned. He incurred more than 900 million yuan — around $133 million at current rates — in losses from interest. “I hoped to launch some grand undertakings and major moves, to create a big splash, thinking that only in this way could I attract the attention of my superiors,” Li said in a state-television documentary quoted by the Journal. He was expelled in November 2023 and received a suspended death sentence in August 2024.
Corruption remains a large part of the takedowns. Common violations include accepting lavish gifts, dining on public money, and arranging extravagant receptions. More than 80 officials were denounced for playing golf, more than two dozen for gambling, and at least 30 for indulging in “vulgar tastes.” One official styled himself as a “tasting expert” for Moutai, a popular Chinese liquor brand, and illegally received hundreds of bottles while insisting on drinking Moutai at banquets.
Beijing has also broadened its classification of wrongdoing. Since around 2015, the party switched from citing adultery to denouncing “inappropriate sexual relations,” a charge issued against more than 40 people. Separately, about 130 officials have been accused of paying or “trading power” for sex. The party has also focused on “bad family values,” including failing to discipline spouses and children.
Sun Lijun, former vice minister of public security, was investigated in April 2020. The party cited around three dozen allegations including forming cliques and factions within the party, severely damaging party unity, improperly discussing the party center’s policies, trading power and money for sex, and illegally possessing and distributing classified materials. He was expelled in September 2021 and received a suspended death sentence in September 2022.
To tighten oversight, Xi has deployed roving inspection teams across the country and embedded CCDI officials into major party institutions and state enterprises. The CCDI did not respond to the Journal’s queries. Xi told the commission in January: “The task of eradicating the soil and conditions that breed corruption remains arduous and onerous. We must maintain a high-pressure posture unswervingly.”