China anti-graft authority said on Saturday it has launched an investigation into Wang Xiangxi, the country’s minister of emergency management, over suspected “serious violations of discipline and law,” a phrase commonly used to signal corruption-related allegations.
The announcement was made by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, which did not disclose further details. Investigations involving sitting cabinet ministers are relatively uncommon in China.
Probe Comes as Anti-Graft Campaign Intensifies
The case unfolds as President Xi Jinping continues a sweeping, years-long campaign against corruption across the ruling Communist Party and state institutions.
Last week, China’s defence ministry confirmed that it was investigating Zhang Youxia, the country’s top military officer and second only to Xi in the armed forces’ leadership structure.
Xi said earlier this month that corruption poses a critical threat to the country and stressed that the fight against it is one China “must not lose.” Official data show that 65 high-level officials were placed under investigation last year, the highest annual total on record, with scrutiny increasingly extending to former university heads and executives at state-owned enterprises.
Background on Wang Xiangxi
Wang, 63, assumed his current role in July 2022 after serving as chairman of National Energy Investment Corp, one of China’s largest power generation firms.
He was seen as recently as Tuesday attending a routine internal meeting involving party cadres and self-criticism sessions, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Emergency Management.
Additional Senior Official Under Investigation
In a separate development, the anti-corruption watchdog also announced an investigation into Sun Shaocheng, the former Communist Party secretary of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. The probe was reported by state-run media outlet China Daily.