Former CCTV anchor Rui Chenggang, who disappeared from the public eye after being arrested in 2014, has recently launched a YouTube channel. In a video titled “Rui Chenggang Is Back,” which was released yesterday (21st), he denied various rumors and scandals surrounding him. However, some netizens commented that they felt he was not sincere enough and suggested that now that he’s no longer with CCTV, he should reveal more insider information.
In the YouTube video posted on Monday (21st), Rui Chenggang announced his return to the public eye. He reflected on his past, including his successful career at China Central Television (CCTV) and his experience of being arrested and imprisoned for involvement in a corruption case, but mainly focused on his personal reflections.
Rui Chenggang, who is now 47 years old, expressed that he has spent “six and a half years without freedom during the best years of his life.” He stated that he is currently a professional investor and denied rumors circulating online that he works for a Hong Kong real estate company. He spent more time addressing rumors about being a spy and various scandals, labeling them as rumors spread to tarnish his reputation.
He chose to reappear on YouTube after ten years of disappearance because he believes “there is more space here.”
Rui Chenggang did not disclose his current whereabouts but mentioned that he recently traveled abroad.
Based on screenshots from the video, user account “Senior Analyst” speculated that Rui Chenggang is now in the United States, citing the American interior design style and English books visible in the background.
Radio Free Asia directly reported that Rui Chenggang has arrived in the United States.
Comments from netizens under Rui Chenggang’s YouTube videos include: “To be honest, I feel that he is not being straightforward enough. People are actually interested in why he was imprisoned, which widely spread rumors are false, and what the actual situation is.” “We know he’s out of prison, but some might think he’s returning in glory.” “This is YouTube, not CCTV. Being truthful and revealing inside information is meaningful.”
In 2014, Rui Chenggang was investigated and detained for his involvement in a corruption case related to CCTV’s financial channel director, Guo Zhenxi. A photo of an execution notice allegedly issued by the Jiaohe City Court in Jilin Province for Rui Chenggang began circulating online on February 6, 2017. The photo indicated that he was sentenced to six years in prison for bribery and corruption, with his sentence starting in 2015 and projected to end in December 2020. This information was quickly censored in mainland China.
Unverified reports at the time suggested that Rui Chenggang obtained political and economic secrets from high-ranking officials and their families and passed them on to foreign intelligence agencies. Additionally, he was rumored to have had relationships with the wives of 20 senior officials. Due to his connections with former high-level officials, he was dragged into rumors of power struggles in Zhongnanhai.
Official support contributed to the spy rumors surrounding Rui Chenggang.
In September 2014, the official Xinhua Net published an article titled “Rui Chenggang Exposed as a Spy: Must be Severely Punished,” further fueling rumors that Rui Chenggang acted as a foreign spy.
In 2015, the Chinese Communist Party’s official newspaper, People’s Daily, published an article titled “Everyone Has a Rui Chenggang in Their Hearts,” stating that Rui Chenggang’s downfall was due to having an oversized heart and being too impatient.
Born in 1977 in Hefei, Anhui Province, Rui Chenggang was once a star anchor on CCTV’s financial channel, interviewing numerous international celebrities and hosting many important financial programs, gaining immense popularity. However, his self-proclaimed representation of Asia during the G20 summit in 2011, while interviewing President Obama, sparked controversy.
Before his arrest in 2014, Rui Chenggang had over 10 million followers on his personal Weibo account. His Weibo account has not been updated since 2014. While the account had an upgrade prompt on July 14th this year, there have been no new posts, indicating that it remains blocked.