On November 23, the website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and National Supervisory Commission published an article titled “Guangdong Strengthens Supervision and Management of Retired Officials, Enforcing Strict Management with Deep Concern and Constant Warning Bells”.
The article introduces that the Guangdong Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervisory Commission closely monitors new situations and issues, seriously investigating corrupt officials who disregard party discipline and national laws while in office, as well as resolutely punishing corrupt officials who have already retired. Since last year, the provincial commission has investigated and dealt with over 50 retired provincial-level party member leaders, including Lai Tiansheng, the former director of the Guangdong Provincial Economic and Information Commission, Xu Zongxiang, the former secretary of the Party Committee of Guangzhou Sport University, and Li Yuquan, the former deputy secretary of the municipal party committee and mayor of Dongguan. This sends a strong signal that retirement is not a “safe box” and discipline enforcement will become stricter as time goes on.
The article also mentions that in June of this year, the Guangdong Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervisory Commission initiated an investigation and review of Zhuo X, the former deputy secretary of the party committee and director of a provincial-level unit who had retired for over a year. Upon investigation, Zhuo X was found to have used his position in a prefectural-level city and provincial-level unit, as well as the convenience arising from his authority or status, to seek improper benefits for those who sought his help and illegally accepted property from others. Ultimately, he was expelled from the party, had his corresponding retirement benefits canceled, and was transferred to the procuratorial organs for investigation and prosecution on suspicion of crimes. After being placed under residential surveillance, Zhuo X expressed regret, saying, “I thought the process of power-for-money transactions was very隐秘 (secretive), and I could enjoy myself after retirement. But now I am in prison, and I will have to spend the rest of my life in repentance and atonement.”
Reporters from The Paper noted that the mentioned Zhuo X is Zhuo Zhiqiang, the former deputy secretary of the party committee and director of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Civil Affairs, who was announced to have been dismissed in June 14th of this year.
Zhuo Zhiqiang, male, born in October 1962, Han nationality, native to Wuhua, Guangdong, born in Lufeng, Guangdong, holds an on-the-job postgraduate degree and a master’s degree in business administration. He joined the party in December 1985 and started working in July 1982. He previously served as member of the standing committee and secretary of the Shanwei Municipal Party Committee, deputy secretary and secretary of the Shanwei Municipal Party Committee, deputy secretary of the Yunfu Municipal Party Committee and mayor of Yunfu, secretary of the party committee and director of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Civil Affairs, and director and deputy secretary of the party committee of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Civil Affairs.
The article on the website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and National Supervisory Commission further introduces that the Guangdong Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervisory Commission adheres to a problem-oriented approach, focuses on punishing key areas and key targets, accurately analyzes the characteristics and patterns of new and hidden forms of corruption such as “option corruption” and the “revolving door” between politics and business, and intensifies efforts to investigate and deal with such corruption. At the same time, it strictly follows regulations, discipline, and law to ensure accurate case qualification and appropriate handling, achieving a unity of political, disciplinary, legal, and social effects. The former “top leader” of a provincial financial institution, Zhou X, used his position to seek benefits for some private enterprise owners while in office and calmly accepted money after retiring in 2019. He was expelled from the party, had his corresponding retirement benefits canceled, and was transferred to the procuratorial organs for investigation and prosecution on suspicion of crimes. Lai X, the former “top leader” of a provincial-level unit, used his position to help others and accept money while in office. Even after retiring in 2017, he did not converge or stop, using his influence from his former position to interfere with organizational personnel matters, help others with project approvals, loan approvals, and land use procedures, seeking improper benefits for others, and illegally accepting property from others. He was ultimately seriously dealt with. Li X, the former secretary of the party committee and chairman of a municipal political consultative conference, began to navigate between politics and business after retiring in 2015. He repeatedly violated the spirit of the central eight-point regulations, accepted banquets from social bosses in violation of regulations, used his influence to act as a middleman and persuader, helped others greet and secure projects, and accepted property in return. Ultimately, Li X was expelled from the party, had his corresponding retirement benefits canceled, and was transferred to the procuratorial organs for investigation and prosecution on suspicion of crimes.
Reporters from The Paper noted that among the recently investigated former chairs of municipal political consultative conferences in Guangdong, Li Shibao, the former secretary of the party committee and chairman of the Shaoguan Municipal Political Consultative Conference, was included.
Upon investigation, Li Shibao was found to have lost his ideals and beliefs, abandoned his original aspiration and mission, disregarded the spirit of the central eight-point regulations, accepted gifts and cash in violation of regulations, and accepted banquets in violation of regulations. He violated organizational principles by providing assistance for others to be elected as representatives of the people’s congress and accepting property in return. He abused his power for personal gain, used his position to seek benefits for others in project promotion and engineering contracts, and illegally accepted huge amounts of property.
The official article from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection also introduces that the Dongguan Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervisory Commission issued a “Discipline Notification for Retired Officials of the Party” to help retired officials further strengthen their ideological defense line of integrity and self-discipline. After investigating and dealing with Lin X, the former deputy director of the Zhongkai High-tech Industrial Development Zone Management Committee who “retired but did not stop working”, the Huizhou Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervisory Commission issued a reminder letter to the management committee, requiring them to strengthen responsibility and accountability, and use methods such as organizational life meetings, heart-to-heart talks, and visits to carry out detailed supervision and management of retired officials. The Shaoguan Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervisory Commission strengthened the tracking and supervision of the employment whereabouts of resigned and retired party members and cadres, identified 23 resigned and retired party members and cadres who engaged in unauthorized part-time work and received compensation, initiated investigations and dealt with 6 cases, including seriously dealing with the issue of the “top leader” of a municipal-level unit who applied for early retirement and then served as the chairman of an agricultural and forestry company the next month, receiving nearly 1 million yuan in unauthorized compensation.
“Whether in office or retired, as long as there is corrupt behavior of seeking personal gain through power, it is impossible to remain safe. We will continue to closely monitor key issues, key areas, and key targets, resolutely investigate and deal with corrupt officials who do not converge, do not stop, and do not know when to stop, and promote the integrated approach of not daring to be corrupt, not being able to be corrupt, and not wanting to be corrupt, continuously consolidating and developing a political ecology of integrity and uprightness,” said a relevant responsible comrade from the provincial commission for discipline inspection and supervisory commission.