Another Chinese Politburo member is investigated for corruption

News agency Xinhua On April 3, it was reported that China’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection was investigating Mr. Ma, former Party Secretary of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region and member of the country’s Politburo, on suspicion of “serious violations of discipline and law”. This is a phrase often used by Chinese officials when referring to corruption cases.

Mr. Ma is the third Politburo member of the leadership term from 2022 to be investigated, something unprecedented in China for decades. He left the position of secretary of Xinjiang last July and has not appeared since then.

Ma Xingrui is considered one of China’s leading scientists. He previously held the positions of Vice President of Harbin Industrial University, General Director of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Director of the National Space Administration and General Commander of Chang’e 3, China’s first lunar exploration mission.

After that, he successively held the positions of Deputy Minister of Industry and Information Technology, Head of the Legal Department of Guangdong Province, Secretary of the Shenzhen Party Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Governor of Guangdong Province.

He served as Secretary of the Xinjiang Party Committee from 2021 to 2025. His tenure was marked by a relative relaxation of security policies in Xinjiang and a greater focus on economic development.

In October last year, Mr. He Weidong, former vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission (CMC), member of the Politburo, was investigated, expelled from the party and stripped of his military citizenship for “violating discipline and law”. In January, General Truong Huu Hiep, another vice president of the CMC and member of the Politburo, was also included in the investigation list with similar accusations.

Thus, the number of members of China’s Politburo is now 21 people, the smallest number since 1999.

Late last month, Chinese officials announced that Mr. Quach Vinh Hang, 60 years old, who held the position of Party Secretary of Guangzhou from June to December 2023, was being investigated for suspicion of corruption. He was a senior assistant to Mr. Ma when he held the position of Party Secretary of Shenzhen, the technology center of Guangdong province, during the period 2015 – 2016.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has embarked on an extensive anti-corruption campaign since coming to power in 2012. In January, he emphasized that corruption was the “biggest threat” to the Chinese Communist Party and that it was still on the rise.