London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

"No Mercy" To Corrupt: China Warns As It Ramps Up Corruption Crackdown

"No Mercy" To Corrupt: China Warns As It Ramps Up Corruption Crackdown

Beijing has warned of further investigation into corruption in the financial sector and state-owned enterprises.
China has vowed to ramp up its regulatory crackdown and show "no mercy" against corruption as the ruling Communist Party gears up for a key meeting that could secure President Xi Jinping a third term.

The announcement suggests authorities have no plans to rein in investigations that engulfed China's tech industry last year or an ongoing hunt for corruption that has brought down high-flying politicians and influential tycoons.

The official Xinhua news agency carried a communique from the Communist Party's discipline watchdog late Thursday saying authorities will punish any corruption connected to "the disorderly expansion of capital" in various industries and "cut the link between power and capital".

Beijing must "show no mercy to those who engage in political gangs, small circles and vested interests within the party," the statement added, while warning of further investigation into corruption in the financial sector and state-owned enterprises.

Critics argue China's anti-corruption campaign has served as a way to remove political enemies since Xi came to power in 2013.

The fresh warnings followed the Wednesday airing of a state television programme that implied the involvement of tech giant Jack Ma's Alibaba-affiliated Ant Group in a corruption scandal.

Alibaba's Hong Kong-listed shares were down nearly six percent on Friday.

The latest episode of a series on corrupt officials aired by broadcaster CCTV accused unnamed companies of paying off the brother of a former official in Hangzhou in exchange for favorable treatment.

Company records published by business database Tianyancha showed that Ant Group, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment, had invested in two subway payment companies controlled by the official's brother through Ant subsidiary Yunxin Venture Capital Management Co.

Beijing's regulatory crackdown expanded last year to curb runaway growth in China's powerful tech and internet sectors, and to reign in the influence of big businesses.

Ma's e-commerce and payments empire is among the corporate giants hit by the crackdown, with officials spiking Ant's planned IPO at the last minute in late 2020 and hitting Alibaba with a record fine for monopoly activity.

Authorities have also tightened regulations for a host of industries ranging from education to food delivery ahead of the key 20th party congress next autumn, where president Xi is widely expected to be handed a third term in office.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×