Ten months after falling from grace, former Vice Governor of Jiangxi Province and former Vice Chairman of the Political Consultative Conference, Hu Qiang, has been charged with accepting bribes of particularly large amounts. Hu Qiang was the first “tiger” to be taken down after the Year of the Dragon.
According to a report from the Supreme People’s Procuratorate of the Communist Party of China on December 17th, the investigation into the alleged bribery case involving Hu Qiang, former member of the Jiangxi Provincial Political Consultative Conference and Vice Chairman, has been concluded. The case has been designated to be reviewed and prosecuted by the Longyan City Procuratorate in Fujian Province. Recently, the prosecution has brought charges against Hu Qiang to the Intermediate People’s Court of Longyan City.
The prosecution alleges that Hu Qiang exploited his positions as Deputy Director, Party Secretary, and Director of the Finance Department of Jiangxi Province, as well as Vice Governor of Jiangxi Province, to seek benefits for others illegally, accepting substantial amounts of money and property. He is accused of committing the crime of accepting bribes and should be held criminally accountable.
On February 21st, Hu Qiang was officially investigated, becoming the first “tiger” to fall from grace in the Year of the Dragon and the eighth high-ranking official to be taken down since 2024. On August 1st, authorities announced that Hu Qiang’s Communist Party membership was revoked, his privileges were canceled, and he was sent for judicial proceedings.
At the time of the announcement, it was stated that Hu Qiang used his power to seek benefits for others and accept bribes in cadre selection and appointment processes. He also assisted relatives and specific individuals in depositing funds in violation of regulations, engaged in illicit activities involving power, money, and sex, interfered in market economic activities, colluded with illegal businessmen, used his position for personal gain in corporate operations and job promotions, and unlawfully accepted large sums of money.
At the age of 62, Hu Qiang, originally from Zaoqiang, Hebei Province, had a long career in Jiangxi Province. He served as Deputy Director of the Finance Department of Jiangxi Province since 2003, was promoted to Director of the Finance Department seven years later, became Vice Governor of Jiangxi Province in January 2018, Vice Chairman of the Jiangxi Provincial Political Consultative Conference in January 2022, and stepped down from the position in January 2023.
Furthermore, Hu Qiang was involved in a public opinion controversy.
In July 2022, an employee of the Jiangxi State-owned Capital Operation Holdings Group Co., Ltd., Zhou Jie, boasted on social media, attracting public attention. He claimed to have met Hu Qiang and said, “Vice Governor Hu gave me a cigarette… it’s a 1200 yuan per stick cigarette that you can’t buy elsewhere.”
After Zhou Jie’s remarks drew attention online, the Jiangxi State-owned Capital Operation Holdings Group Co., Ltd. issued a statement denying Zhou Jie’s claims.