CHINA

State-Backed Documentary Exposes Minister’s Corruption

By Kelly Wang, Tang Ailin and Huang Yuxin

Published: Jan. 9, 2025 7:31 p.m. GMT+8

00:00

00:00/00:00

Listen to this article 1x

Tang Yijun, China’s minister of justice from 2020 to 2023. Photo: Screenshot from CCTV

A former Chinese justice minister and an ex-provincial party chief used their families as fronts to cover up their corrupt activities, according to a state-produced anti-graft documentary series released this week.

The series, co-produced by China’s top graft watchdog, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), and state broadcaster CCTV, has become an annual event in China and been released in most years since 2014. It spotlights officials who abused their power for personal gains.

You've accessed an article available only to subscribers

Subscribe today for just $.99.

VIEW OPTIONS

Unlock exclusive discounts with a Caixin group subscription — ideal for teams and organizations.

Subscribe to both Caixin Global and The Wall Street Journal — for the price of one.

Share this article

Open WeChat and scan the QR code

DIGEST HUB

Digest Hub

Back

Explore the story in 30 seconds

A documentary series by China's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and CCTV exposed corrupt activities involving former justice minister Tang Yijun and ex-provincial party chief Sun Zhigang, using families as intermediaries.
Tang's wife operated 34 companies for bribery under market operations guise, while Sun's relatives facilitated illicit transactions; Sun faced a suspended death sentence for receiving over 813 million yuan.
Other officials in the series were also implicated, including those falsifying GDP figures and accepting significant kickbacks in public sectors.

AI generated, for reference only

Who’s Who

CCTV: CCTV, or China Central Television, is a state broadcaster in China. It co-produces an annual anti-graft documentary series with the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI). The series highlights corrupt activities of officials using their power for personal gain, aiming to expose and combat corruption within the government. This collaboration emphasizes the Chinese government's ongoing efforts to tackle graft.

AI generated, for reference only

What Happened When