CHINESE PRESIDENT XI’S FAMILY, HIGH RANKING OFFICIALS RETAIN MASSIVE WEALTH DESPITE ANTI-CORRUPTION DRIVE

A report has indicated that Chinese President Xi Jinping's relatives continue to hold substantial financial assets and business investments, according to Radio Free Asia (RFA). The US-backed Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) revealed that President Xi's family continues to hold major financial assets, with their political ties possibly helping their investments grow in both government-owned and private businesses.

Despite initiating a large-scale anti-corruption campaign in 2012 after taking office, President Xi’s crackdown on corruption within the Communist Party has reportedly not affected his family’s wealth. The campaign, which focused on both high-ranking “tigers” and lower-level “flies,” has resulted in the prosecution of hundreds of thousands of officials over the years.

The US intelligence report highlights widespread corruption in China, worsened by a centralised power structure, weak independent monitoring, and minimal accountability, especially at the provincial level. These factors, according to the ODNI, have allowed government officials to accumulate wealth through corrupt practices, earning up to four to six times more than their official salaries.

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Between 2012 and 2022, nearly five million Chinese officials came under investigation, and 4.7 million were found guilty, according to the ODNI report.

The report also noted that Xi Jinping aimed to create a system where government officials would be both "unable and unwilling to engage in corruption."

Report Highlights Systemic Corruption in China:

The ODNI report highlights that top officials benefit the most from bribery and illegal financial deals, often using their influence to control state resources. Many reportedly pay huge bribes to secure membership, as it opens doors to further corruption. Even after leaving office, some continue leveraging their connections to profit from business dealings

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China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) has become a gateway to power and wealth, with officials using their positions for financial gain, the report has revealed. Holding an NPC seat is seen as a status symbol that grants access to government affairs and key economic opportunities.

(With Inputs from RFA)

2025-03-26T11:37:01Z