China’s Anti-Corruption Campaign Still Uncovers Tens of Thousands of Cases Each Month

Critics say Beijing’s long-running enforcement campaign increasingly functions as political control rather than genuine reform.

Security officials walk along a hallway at the Great Hall of the People amid preparatory meetings for the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing on March 4, 2025. Pedro Pardo / AFP via Getty Images

More than a decade after the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched its signature “Eight-Point Regulation” campaign to curb official misconduct, Beijing says it is still uncovering tens of thousands of violations every month, with the overwhelming majority involving lower-level officials.

New figures released by China’s top anti-corruption watchdog on May 25 showed that the CCP investigated 21,889 cases related to violations of the rules in April alone, while 27,852 people were subjected to disciplinary measures, or other forms of punishment.