Media corruption

The anti-graft fight against corruption in the media was underlined by the investigation of Guo Zhenxi, director general of China Central Television's finance and economics channel. On June 1, the top procuratorate announced it was opening an investigation into allegations of bribery against Guo. At least six CCTV employees, including TV anchor Rui Chenggang, have reportedly been investigated by prosecutors.

Media regulators have also been the target of the anti-graft campaign. Gao Jianyun, deputy director of the fifth bureau of the International Communication Office of the CPC Central Committee, which is in charge of Internet regulation, was investigated on April 18.

Military corruption

On June 30, Xu Caihou, former vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, was stripped of his Party membership because of multiple allegations of corruption, including accepting bribes. He is the highest-level military officer punished for corruption since the reform and opening-up in 1978.

On June 25, Ye Wanyong, former political commissar of Sichuan provincial military area command, was stripped of his standing committee membership to the provincial political advisory body. Media reports accused him of offering bribes to Xu Caihou, though the accusations were not verified by anti-graft authorities.

Fighting "tigers" on the weekend

Investigations into eight of 20 provincial- and national-level officials, known as "tigers" because of their status as corrupt senior leaders, were announced over weekends. An investigation of Su Rong, former vice-chairman of the country's top political advisory body, was announced on Saturday, June 14.

Unexpected probes

In the past, corrupt officials nearly always "disappeared" for a long period of time before they were placed under investigation. This year, however, more senior officials have been placed under "sudden" investigations.

Wan Qingliang, Party secretary of Guangzhou, was investigated on June 27. On July 26, he attended a government meeting and told local officials to abide by the clean-governance rules.

[email protected]