In the lead-up to China’s National Day, official Chinese media reported the investigation of a group of “moles” within the Communist Party, including Li Gang, head of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection stationed at the Organization Department, and Chen Xiaobo, deputy secretary of the Hainan Province Commission for Discipline Inspection. Analysts suggest that this represents the internal power struggles within the CCP.
On September 30th, Li Gang, head of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection stationed at the Organization Department, was placed under investigation. Li has held various positions in Sichuan province, including Secretary of the Bazhong Municipal Party Committee, Secretary of the Zigong Municipal Party Committee, Director and Party Secretary of the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Deputy Governor of Sichuan Province, and member of the Party group. In 2021, Li Gang was appointed as a member of the Standing Committee and Minister of Organization Department of the Yunnan Provincial Committee.
At the end of 2023, Li Gang was transferred to Beijing and in January 2024, he appeared as the head of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection stationed at the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee. According to the official Chinese media, his downfall is framed as the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection targeting “moles” at the vice-ministerial level.
Li Gang became the 44th senior official under central management investigated and reviewed by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the State Supervision Commission since the beginning of this year.
On October 10th, the Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China announced that Chen Xiaobo, deputy secretary of the Hainan Province Commission for Discipline Inspection and deputy director of the Provincial Supervision Commission, is under investigation.
Public records show that 59-year-old Chen Xiaobo has long worked in Hainan. Chen previously worked at the Jiangxi Provincial Public Security Department and transferred to Hainan in 1993, where he served in various positions. He was later promoted to deputy director of the Organization Department of the Haikou Municipal Committee, Secretary of the XiuYing District Committee in Haikou, County Magistrate of Chengmai County, Secretary of the TunChang County Committee, and Secretary of the Wenchang City Committee. In April 2017, Chen Xiaobo was appointed as the deputy secretary of the Hainan Province Commission for Discipline Inspection, and in January 2018, he also assumed the position of deputy director of the Provincial Supervision Commission. He has now been implicated in the ongoing investigation.
On October 8th, Liang Wanli, former deputy secretary of the Guangdong Province Commission for Discipline Inspection, was investigated. Liang Wanli had a long career in Guangdong province, serving in various positions before his investigation.
On October 7th, Zhang Ping, former deputy secretary of the Guizhou Province Commission for Discipline Inspection and former deputy director of the Provincial Supervision Commission, was also investigated. Zhang Ping had an extensive career in disciplinary work before his downfall.
From incomplete statistics, it is reported that in the first half of 2024, 1,569 disciplinary and supervisory officials within the Communist Party have been investigated, with 2,003 individuals receiving disciplinary actions and 268 individuals being referred to judicial authorities. Notably, 95 bureau-level officials and 560 county-level officials have faced disciplinary measures.
Political commentator Li Yanming stated that the term “moles” used by the CCP to describe these fallen officials underscores the ongoing power struggles within the Party. These provincial-level disciplinary officials are often connected to high-ranking figures in state-owned enterprises and senior party members, reflecting the internal conflicts within the different factions of the CCP.
He further commented, “From Wang Qishan to Zhao Leji, the secretaries of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection represent different factions themselves. For years, there have been ongoing power struggles between different factions, and now it has escalated into a chaotic situation.”