US Intelligence Publishes China’s Communist Party’s Corruption Report
In a damning report titled “Wealth and Corrupt Activities of the Leadership of the Chinese Communist Party” released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the endemic corruption within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership has been laid bare. We have pored over this unclassified document, and the findings are nothing short of explosive.
The report paints a picture of a political system where power is heavily centralized, checks on public officials are virtually non-existent, and transparency is a foreign concept. President Xi Jinping’s much-touted anti-corruption campaign, launched in 2012, has investigated nearly five million officials. But make no mistake – this isn’t just about cleaning house. It’s a calculated move to preserve the CCP’s iron grip on power and legitimacy.
The scale of corruption is staggering. Studies estimate that 8% to 65% of officials, depending on their rank, receive unofficial income from bribery or graft. Some officials have increased their legal earnings by four to six times through corrupt practices. The higher the echelon, the more lucrative the graft.
But it’s at the senior levels where the rot truly sets in. The families of top leaders have amassed eye-watering wealth:
- Then-Premier Wen Jiabao’s family: controlled assets of at least $2.7 billion in 2012
- Xi Jinping’s siblings, nieces, and nephews: held assets worth over $1 billion in business investments and real estate
While direct links to the leaders themselves weren’t identified, their positions undoubtedly granted access to privileged information and advantageous business opportunities.
The corruption spans across various portfolios and projects:
- Zhang Wei, a Chinese businessman, arrested in 2020 for organized crime, illegal detention, and illegal possession of firearms
- Chen Gang, former member of the China Association for Science and Technology, accused of accepting over $18 million in bribes
- Yao Qian, Director at the China Securities Regulatory Commission, investigated in 2024 for “serious violations of discipline and law”
Even the military isn’t immune. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has been plagued by a culture of pay-for-promotion. In 2023, China removed General Li Shangfu as Minister of National Defense, and in 2024, Admiral Miao Hua, director of the Central Military Commission’s Political Work Department, came under investigation.
The ODNI report reveals a system where corruption is not just about personal enrichment – it’s a tool for political control. Xi’s anti-corruption campaign, while addressing some genuine issues, also serves as a means to eliminate rivals and enforce party discipline.
As China continues to assert itself on the global stage, this report raises serious questions about the integrity of its leadership and the true motives behind its internal power struggles. The world would do well to pay attention to the rot at the core of the CCP.