China Purges Top Executives in Finance, Nuclear, Petrochemicals, Real Estate, and Infrastructure

China Purges Top Executives in Finance, Nuclear, Petrochemicals, Real Estate, and Infrastructure
The logo of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) is seen during the International Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, on June 25, 2017. (Eric Piermont/AFP via Getty Images)
Mary Hong
3/21/2023
Updated:
3/21/2023
0:00
With China’s Communist Party leader Xi Jinping now in his third term, his anti-graft probes are continuing—with millions of cases investigated since he took power in 2012.

Recently, Beijing’s anti-corruption organs announced the investigation of multiple top officials from state-owned enterprises in finance as well as industries such as nuclear, petrochemicals, shipbuilding, and property development.

Between March 14 and 16, at least 9 managerial-level officials were investigated for alleged legal and disciplinary violations.

On March 16 alone, at least 12 senior cadres were sacked for alleged violations of Party discipline and Chinese law.

AVIC Trust

On March 16, Yao Jiangtao, the former chairman and Wei Yinghui, the former deputy general manager of AVIC Trust were investigated for such alleged violations.

The investigation was conducted by the Communist Party’s watchdog, which is affiliated with the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), and the supervisory committee of Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province.

According to public information, AVIC Trust is a subsidiary of AVIC Industry & Finance, a listed financial holding company held by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

AVIC Trust is a joint venture between Chinese and foreign investors, with AVIC Investment Holdings maintaining 84.4 percent of the shares, and Singaporean OCBC Bank holding 15.6 percent.

Nuclear Industry

Also on March 16, Guo Zhiping, former Party Secretary at China National Nuclear Corporation, was under investigation for suspected serious violations of Party principles and Chinese law.

Petrochemicals Industry

Chen Junhao, senior deputy general manager of refining, chemicals, and new materials at PetroChina, voluntarily surrendered himself to the Chinese regime’s authorities for the investigation of alleged violations, according to the supervisory and disciplinary board.
A gas station belonging to the state-owned oil company, PetroChina, is pictured in Beijing on March 21, 2016. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters)
A gas station belonging to the state-owned oil company, PetroChina, is pictured in Beijing on March 21, 2016. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters)

Shipbuilding Industry

Chen Fusheng, the former director of the Huazhong Research Institute of Electro-Optical Technology at China State Shipbuilding Corporation, is being investigated for suspected serious violations of discipline and law.

Real Estate

On March 15, Liu Haitao, the former secretary of the party committee and chairman of Beijing Tianheng Real Estate Group, and Yang Wei, the general manager, are being investigated for suspected violations of Party discipline and laws.
Beijing Tianheng Real Estate Group is a state-owned enterprise in urban construction and development, and is incorporated under the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council in Beijing’s Xicheng District.

Transportation

On March 14, Ye Xuebin, the former general manager of Shandong Hi-Speed Sichuan Industrial Development, and Zhou Shaolin, the former deputy general manager, were investigated for serious violations.
The company is the Sichuan division of Shandong Hi-Speed Group, a state-owned enterprise in infrastructure in Shandong Province and a Fortune 500 enterprise.
Last August, Sun Liang, former chairman of Shandong Hi-Speed Group, was investigated by the authorities for suspected serious violations of the law and occupational crimes.
Li Jing contributed to this report.