China Regulator Ousted in Vaccine Scandal Now Faces Bribery Prosecution
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Bi Jingquan. Photo: Visual China Group
A former top Chinese regulator who was forced to resign in disgrace over a major vaccine scandal in 2018, has been expelled from the Communist Party and faces prosecution for bribery, ending the comeback of a once-influential official.
Bi Jingquan, 70, was ousted from the Party and stripped of his public positions, the country’s top anti-graft watchdog announced on Monday. His case has been handed over to prosecutors for criminal proceedings.
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- Bi Jingquan, former top Chinese regulator, was expelled from the Communist Party and faces prosecution for bribery and other offenses.
- Bi was previously forced to resign in 2018 over a major vaccine scandal but had returned to prominent roles before his recent investigation.
- His expulsion is part of China’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign, with actions also taken against two other senior officials.
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Who’s Who
- Changchun Changsheng Bio-technology Co.
- Changchun Changsheng Bio-technology Co. was at the center of a 2018 vaccine scandal. The company was found to have falsified production records for a rabies vaccine and manufactured hundreds of thousands of ineffective vaccines for children. This incident led to a national outcry and Bi Jingquan's forced resignation.
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What Happened When
- 2015：
- Bi Jingquan was appointed head of China's food and drug administration to clean up the sector.
- 2018：
- Bi Jingquan was forced to resign from his post as head of the State Administration for Market Regulation following the vaccine scandal at Changchun Changsheng Bio-technology Co.
- 2020：
- Bi began a political rehabilitation by being appointed to a senior position on the economic committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.
- 2023：
- Bi was reappointed to the senior position on the economic committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.
- March 2024：
- Bi became chairman of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges.
- May 29, 2025：
- The government announced that Bi was under investigation.
- November 2025：
- The Drug Information Association awarded Bi its lifetime achievement award for leadership in drug innovation.
- December 8, 2025：
- Bi Jingquan was expelled from the Communist Party and stripped of his public positions; his case was handed to prosecutors.
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