Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s sweeping anti-corruption campaign is intensifying at a pace and scale that insiders say is unprecedented, fueling growing speculation that what is publicly framed as a “clean governance” effort has evolved into a broader political purge.
In the first three months of this year, officials across key sectors—including the military, financial system, and energy industry—have been investigated or removed in large numbers. Analysts and insiders recently told The Epoch Times that the campaign is increasingly targeting not just corruption but also political loyalty, signaling a shift from discipline enforcement to power consolidation.
The crackdown coincides with what was planned to be the start of China’s new five-year development plan. However, Beijing has initiated a broad campaign that analysts call a “political cleansing,” revealing internal instability and heightening factional infighting within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
A Surge in Investigations
Official data released by China’s top anti-corruption body, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, show that in February alone, 73 senior officials at or above the bureau level were placed under investigation, while 69 were disciplined.
Notably, the regime said that 78 percent of those punished were accused of violating “political discipline,” with many also charged with “resisting investigation”—a broad category often interpreted as disloyalty or non-compliance with the Party’s central authority.
However, due to the Chinese authorities’ past record of underreporting and concealing information, it is difficult to assess the true scale of the anti-corruption campaign.
Several insiders spoke to The Epoch Times on the issue, on condition of anonymity or revealing only their surnames out of fear of reprisal.
A retired mid-level Beijing official told The Epoch Times that an atmosphere of fear is spreading through the regime’s ranks.
“Officials are terrified,” he said. “Meetings are held every week where colleagues are encouraged to report on each other and submit written accusations—anyone seen as resisting scrutiny is dealt with severely.”
The official added that even routine practices, such as accepting gifts from subordinates, have made many officials nervous, given the unpredictability of enforcement.
At a recent meeting in a State Council ministry, he said, officials were instructed to write self-criticism reports and voluntarily confess wrongdoing in exchange for leniency. The State Council is the highest administrative organ and the chief executive body of the regime, tasked with implementing laws and overseeing national affairs.
“When the meeting ended, everyone looked pale,” he said. “People are worried they’ll be the next to be investigated.”
While anti-corruption campaigns have long been a feature of Chinese politics, some analysts say the current drive differs in both tone and scope.
The concept of “resisting investigation,” once a procedural violation, has taken on political meaning—often signaling passive resistance to top leadership rather than specific acts of corruption, according to analysts.
They note that the campaign no longer distinguishes between factions or professional backgrounds. Instead, it has become increasingly politicized, with corruption allegations sometimes framed as evidence of opposition to top leadership.
“This has moved beyond just catching corrupt officials,” a China-based political scholar told The Epoch Times. “It’s become a tool for eliminating perceived threats; what’s being selected now is not integrity, but obedience.”
Technocrats and Key Sectors Hit
Recent investigations have disproportionately affected officials in specialized sectors such as finance and regional governance, which traditionally require technical expertise and some degree of autonomy.
In March, the fall of Chongqing’s mayor was widely interpreted as a warning to powerful regional leaders. Around the same time, a senior financial regulator was also removed, with the regime appearing to place blame for economic risks on regulatory officials.
An insider from within the CCP, surnamed Liu, told The Epoch Times that the criteria for survival in politics have fundamentally changed.
“In the past, performance and experience mattered,” Liu said. “Now, what matters is your political stance and whether you’re seen as controllable. If you’re viewed as unpredictable, even highly capable officials can fall overnight.”
The result, he said, is a bureaucratic culture increasingly driven by caution and conformity, with independent judgment discouraged.
Some observers say the campaign’s intensity has effectively become a test of loyalty across the entire system.
Terms such as “absolute loyalty” and “no second thoughts” have become central benchmarks for evaluating officials, according to insiders familiar with internal assessments.
The pace of the campaign has also accelerated, with multiple sectors experiencing what insiders describe as “systemic collapse” under sustained pressure.
“It’s no longer about whether you’re corrupt,” a China-based analyst of the regime’s political system told The Epoch Times. “It’s about whether you’re politically safe. If you’re labeled untrustworthy, anti-corruption becomes the most effective tool to remove you.”
Yue Li contributed to this report.
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