Another 'One-Billion-Yuan Corrupt Official' Added: Former Shanghai Provincial-Level Official Dong Yunhu Sentenced to Life Imprisonment in First Trial (AI Translation)
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文｜财新 张一川
By Caixin’s Zhang Yichuan
【财新网】从中国最早开始系统研究人权问题的学者之一、中国第一份人权白皮书的起草人之一，到中共二十大后上海“首虎”、同期首名落马的正省级、首名被公开罢免的十四届全国人大代表、2024年首名被提起公诉的正省级，再到中共二十大后首名获刑的正省级，昔日“学而优则仕”的董云虎，到如今经历了过山车一般的人生。
[Caixin Global] Dong Yunhu, once among China’s earliest scholars to systematically study human rights and a drafter of China’s first white paper on the topic, saw his career rise and fall dramatically in the years that followed. After the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, Dong became the first high-ranking Shanghai official to fall from grace, the first full provincial-level official of his cohort to be brought down, the first 14th National People’s Congress delegate to be publicly removed, and the first full provincial-level official in 2024 to face prosecution. He ultimately became the first provincial-level official sentenced after the Party’s 20th Congress. Once renowned for rising through scholarly achievement, Dong’s trajectory has turned into a cautionary tale of rapid ascent followed by a precipitous fall.
8月28日，安徽合肥中院微信公众号发布消息称，合肥中院以受贿罪一审判处董云虎无期徒刑，剥夺政治权利终身，并处没收个人全部财产；对董云虎受贿犯罪所得财物及其孳息依法予以追缴，上缴国库。
On August 28, the Hefei Intermediate People's Court in Anhui Province announced via its official WeChat account that Dong Yunhu had been sentenced to life imprisonment in the first instance for accepting bribes. The court also imposed a lifetime deprivation of his political rights and ordered the confiscation of all his personal property. Assets and proceeds obtained through Dong's bribery offenses will be confiscated in accordance with the law and turned over to the national treasury.
经审理查明：2002年至2023年，董云虎利用担任中央外宣办七局局长，西藏党委常委、宣传部部长，上海市委常委、宣传部部长，上海市政协党组书记、主席，上海市人大常委会党组书记、主任等职务上的便利以及职权、地位形成的便利条件，为有关单位和个人在融资贷款、土地出让、企业经营和人事安排等事项上提供帮助，非法收受上述单位和个人所送财物，共计折合人民币1.48亿余元。
According to the court’s findings, from 2002 to 2023, Dong Yunhu took advantage of his positions—including head of the seventh bureau of the Central External Publicity Office, member of the Standing Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the Xizang Communist Party Committee, member of the Standing Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee, Party Secretary and Chairman of the Shanghai CPPCC, and Party Secretary and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai People’s Congress—to benefit certain organizations and individuals. He provided assistance in areas such as financing and loans, land transfers, business operations, and personnel appointments, exploiting the powers and conveniences available to him due to his roles and status. In exchange, Dong illegally accepted property and valuables from these organizations and individuals totaling more than 148 million yuan (approximately $20.4 million).
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- Dong Yunhu was sentenced to life imprisonment for bribery by Hefei Intermediate People's Court on August 28.
- He was found guilty of illegally receiving over 148 million RMB from 2002 to 2023.
- The corruption involved leveraging his various official positions, including in Shanghai and Xizang.
The article provides a detailed account of Dong Yunhu, a prominent Chinese academic-turned-politician, focusing on his career trajectory, downfall due to corruption charges, and the broader anti-corruption context in Shanghai and beyond [para. 1]. Dong, recognized as one of China’s earliest systematic scholars of human rights and a drafter of the country's first human rights white paper, experienced a dramatic career rise, culminating in high-ranking positions such as the chairmanship of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress and the Shanghai CPPCC. However, following the 20th Party Congress, Dong became the first provincial-level official to be investigated, publicly dismissed, prosecuted, and sentenced, reflecting the intensified anti-graft crackdown in top echelons of Chinese politics [para. 1].
On August 28, the Hefei Intermediate People's Court sentenced Dong Yunhu to life in prison for accepting bribes, along with lifelong deprivation of political rights and confiscation of personal assets. The court found that from 2002 to 2023, Dong leveraged various roles—including Director of the Seventh Bureau of the State Council Information Office, propaganda chief in Tibet and Shanghai, and key leadership posts in the Shanghai government—to illicitly receive over RMB 148 million (about USD 20 million) by facilitating loans, land transfers, business operations, and personnel appointments [para. 2][para. 3][para. 4]. While Dong’s acts caused particularly large and grave losses to state and public interests, his full confession, remorse, and restitution of all ill-gotten gains led the court to consider mitigating circumstances [para. 3].
The narrative details Dong’s rise from academic to influential political figure, beginning with a central government appointment in 1999, and following a series of escalating roles across Tibet and Shanghai until his investigation in July 2023. Notably, even after attaining vice-ministerial rank in 2009, there was no formal allegation of corruption at that point, but his illicit activities were traced from shortly after his first major appointment onward [para. 5][para. 6][para. 7]. Dong was promptly removed from his national legislative post, dismissed from party positions, and ultimately became the first party cadre from the 20th Party Congress to be sentenced, as well as the third to be stripped of congress representation amid similar high-profile corruption cases [para. 8].
Official disciplinary statements accused Dong of abandoning party ideology, undermining political integrity, trading political favors, engaging in superstitious practices, accepting extravagant gifts and banquets, manipulating job promotions, squandering public resources, leveraging his office for personal gain, and persistently accepting bribes even shortly before his arrest [para. 9]. His last public appearance came days before his downfall, underscoring the abruptness of his removal [para. 10]. Dong, 61, hailed from Zhejiang, held degrees from Hangzhou and Nankai Universities, and shaped China’s early discourse on human rights, both through research and the drafting of pivotal government documents, while also critiquing Western human rights practices [para. 11][para. 12].
In the immediate wake of Dong’s fall, corruption investigations swept through Shanghai's media, business, and state enterprise sectors. Notably, Cheng Feng, Deputy General Manager of the Shanghai Media Group, was charged with accepting bribes of over RMB 38 million and stripped of party and professional titles, following a pattern of corruption and abuse of power [para. 13][para. 14][para. 15][para. 16]. Further probes implicated high-ranking executives across Shanghai’s state-owned enterprises, financial sector, and insurance companies. Some cases were directly traced back to Dong Yunhu, and property worth RMB 25 million linked to Dong was seized as part of related corrupt dealings [para. 17][para. 18][para. 19].
With Dong’s conviction, he became the 24th national cadre sentenced for corruption in 2024, amid a broader campaign that has netted numerous senior officials this year alone [para. 20].
- Shanghai United Media Group
- Shanghai United Media Group (上海报业集团) was established in October 2013 through the merger of Wenhui-Xinmin United Press Group and Jiefang Daily Press Group. Cheng Feng served as its Vice General Manager from October 2013, overseeing infrastructure and external investments. He was investigated on July 13, 2023, for alleged corruption.
- China Taiping Insurance Group Ltd.
- China Taiping Insurance Group Ltd. is mentioned as its Deputy General Manager, Xiao Xing, was taken away for investigation. This happened around the time senior official Dong Yunhu fell. Xiao Xing's probe is reportedly linked to Shanghai's political and propaganda system turbulence and a potential investment project in Jiangxi, possibly involving the Dong Yunhu and Cheng Feng corruption cases.
- Shanghai International Group
- The article states that Cheng Feng, who later served as Deputy General Manager of Shanghai United Media Group and was investigated for corruption, transferred from Shanghai International Group at the age of 41. This indicates that Shanghai International Group is an entity from which high-ranking personnel are appointed to other significant state-owned enterprises in Shanghai.
- Shanghai State-owned Assets Operation Co., Ltd.
- Shanghai State-owned Assets Operation Co., Ltd. is mentioned as the former workplace of Cheng Feng. In October 2013, Cheng Feng transferred from his position as Party Secretary and Chairman of Shanghai State-owned Assets Operation Co., Ltd. to become the Deputy General Manager of Shanghai United Media Group.
- China COSCO Shipping Development Co., Ltd.
- China COSCO Shipping Development Co., Ltd. is mentioned as its Chairman and Executive Director, Liu Chong, resigned and went missing. According to Caixin, Liu Chong was investigated on November 17, likely linked to broader investigations involving Shanghai officials and state-owned enterprises, potentially related to the Dong Yunhu corruption case.
- Shanghai Fengxian Transportation Energy (Group) Co., Ltd.
- Shanghai Fengxian Transportation Energy (Group) Co., Ltd. is a state-owned enterprise mentioned in the article. Its former Party Secretary and Chairman, Qu Jianping, was investigated. This occurred prior to July 2023, among other state-owned enterprise executives in Shanghai who were probed.
- Guangming Real Estate Group Co., Ltd.
- Guangming Real Estate Group Co., Ltd. is mentioned in the article because its former Party Secretary and Chairman, Shen Hongze, was among several state-owned enterprise executives who were investigated. The article states that Shen Hongze was probed before Dong Yunhu's case. No other details about the company are provided.
- Shanghai Natural Gas Pipeline Network Co., Ltd.
- Shanghai Natural Gas Pipeline Network Co., Ltd. is mentioned in the article as a state-owned enterprise in Shanghai. Its Disciplinary Committee Secretary, Chen Yang, was investigated among several other state-owned enterprise executives prior to the fall of Dong Yunhu, indicating the company's connection to the broader anti-corruption probe in the city's state-owned sector.
- Shanghai Industrial Investment (Group) Co., Ltd.
- The article mentions **Shanghai Industrial Investment (Group) Co., Ltd.** through the investigation of its **former President, Zhou Jun**. He was among several Shanghai state-owned enterprise officials and executives under investigation, with his case noted for involvement in being "shuanggui" and the encroachment of state assets. Additionally, the chairman of its subsidiary, Shanghai Industrial Leasing Co., Ltd., Lin Zhen, was also detained in connection with the Dong Yunhu case.
- Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co., Ltd.
- The article mentions Pan Deqing, the former Vice President of Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co., Ltd., as one of several officials and state-owned enterprise executives investigated after Dong Yunhu's case. No further details about the company itself are provided in the text.
- Shanghai Industrial Financing Leasing Co., Ltd.
- Shanghai Industrial Financing Leasing Co., Ltd. (上实融资租赁有限公司) was implicated in the Dong Yunhu corruption case. Its chairman, Lin Zhen, was retained by the Hefei Supervisory Commission from June to December 2023. Lin Zhen reportedly used the company to purchase a 25 million yuan property in a prime Shanghai location, which was then provided to Dong Yunhu and his associates for residence.
- July 1986：
- Dong Yunhu graduated and began working at the Central Party School.
- 1990：
- Dong Yunhu published 'An Overview of International Human Rights Codes'.
- End of 1990：
- The United States issued a report criticizing China's human rights record.
- November 1991：
- China released its first white paper, 'The Human Rights Situation in China.'
- November 1999：
- Dong Yunhu left the Central Party School and became Director of the Seventh Bureau at the Central Office of External Propaganda.
- 2002：
- By this year, Dong Yunhu began accepting bribes (according to the court, just over two years after assuming his 1999 post).
- November 2009：
- Dong Yunhu was promoted to Deputy Director of the Central Office of External Propaganda (State Council Information Office).
- December 2011：
- Dong Yunhu began a series of posts including as member of the Standing Committee and head of the Publicity Department of Xizang Autonomous Region, and later Shanghai.
- August 2015：
- Dong Yunhu reassigned to Shanghai as member of the Standing Committee and publicity chief.
- January 2018：
- Dong Yunhu became chairman of the Shanghai Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
- January 2023：
- Dong became chairman of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai People’s Congress and was elected deputy to the 14th National People’s Congress.
- July 10, 2023：
- Dong Yunhu made his last public appearance at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.
- July 12, 2023：
- Official announcement: Dong Yunhu under investigation.
- July 13, 2023：
- Cheng Feng, deputy general manager of Shanghai United Media Group, was announced to be under investigation.
- July 18, 2023：
- Central Commission for Discipline Inspection announced Xiao Xing is under investigation.
- July 23, 2023：
- Cui Maohu was sentenced in the first instance to 11 years for accepting bribes.
- July 31, 2023：
- Dong Yunhu was stripped of eligibility as a deputy to the 14th National People’s Congress.
- November 17, 2023：
- Liu Chong, COSCO Shipping Development Co. chairman, was placed under investigation.
- November 2023：
- By this month, Cheng Feng was expelled from the Communist Party and dismissed from public office.
- December 12, 2023：
- Dong Yunhu was expelled from the Party and dismissed from public office; his qualification as a delegate to the 20th Party Congress was terminated.
- December 13, 2023：
- Cheng Feng’s expulsion from Party and removal from public office was publicly announced.
- December 29, 2023：
- Notification issued by Shanghai Disciplinary Inspection about Cheng Feng’s earlier expulsion and dismissal.
- July 8, 2024：
- Kong Xiaohong was convicted of bribery and sentenced to nine years in prison.
- July 2024：
- Jiang Jie, Dong’s successor in Xizang publicity, stood trial in Tianjin.
- August 28, 2024：
- Hefei Intermediate People’s Court announced Dong Yunhu’s sentence to life imprisonment for accepting bribes.
- As of August 28, 2024：
- Dong Yunhu became the 24th centrally administered official sentenced in 2024.
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