Xi's anti-corruption drive began 14 years ago. Why are the purges still going?

BBC News - WorldEN 7 min read 100% complete March 14, 2026 at 12:08 AM

AI Summary

long article 7 min

Since Xi Jinping became general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party in 2012, he has led a sweeping anti-corruption campaign. The campaign continues today, more than a decade later, and has resulted in millions of officials being disciplined, sacked, or jailed. The dismissals were evident at the recent National People's Congress, where about 100 delegates were absent. While corruption was a known problem, the scale of Xi's crackdown has been extensive, targeting both high-ranking elites and grassroots officials. According to Professor Kerry Brown, the ongoing purges are due to the endemic corruption within the party, where officials have historically been susceptible to inducements and backhanders. In 2023 alone, China's top anti-graft body reported that nearly one million people were investigated for corruption.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

King's College London 40% Hu Jintao 50% Kerry Brown ×260% Beijing 60% National People's Congress 70% China ×380% Chinese Communist Party ×380% Xi Jinping ×590%

Keywords

anti-corruption drive 100% xi jinping 90% purges 80% corruption 80% chinese communist party 70% national people's congress 50% political elite 50% governance 40% officials 40%