Politics China investigates acting minister
A central government minister is under investigation in China. Emergency Management Minister Wang Xiangxi is suspected of "serious violations of discipline and laws", the Central Discipline Inspection Commission of the Communist Party announced. The authority did not provide further details. The wording often conceals allegations of bribery, as past cases have shown.
31.01.2026, 12:30
SDA
It is rather rare for a minister in office to be investigated. Information on Wang Xiangxi was already no longer available on the ministry's website. The 63-year-old has held the post since 2022. He began his career in the coal industry, as the state-run newspaper "China Daily" reported.
Far-reaching anti-corruption campaign
Recently, however, the People's Liberation Army was shaken by news of investigations into two high-ranking military officers from the Central Military Commission (CMC). This body commands the armed forces. As the Ministry of Defense announced a week ago, Generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli are also being investigated for breaches of discipline. Zhang is the number two in the ZMK behind its chairman Xi Jinping, who is also head of state and party leader.
The investigations are likely to be part of the anti-corruption campaign that President Xi has been pushing for years. According to the state news agency Xinhua in mid-January, 536,000 lower-level officials were targeted by the authorities last year alone. According to the report, 20,000 cases are with the law enforcement authorities.
