Four former senior officials expelled from Party

Four former senior officials were expelled from the Communist Party of China and removed from their public posts, according to a statement issued by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and National Commission of Supervision on Thursday.

The four are Jiao Xiaoping, former deputy commander of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps; Yi Pengfei, former vice-chairman of the Hunan Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference; Hao Hongjun, former chairman of the CPPCC Dalian Committee; and Ji Binchang, former chairman of the CPPCC Qingdao Committee. All were placed under investigation earlier this year and their cases have been transferred to procuratorates for prosecution.

Jiao, 57, violated the new development concept and interfered with the implementation of the policy of peaking carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality, according to the CCDI and NCS, the nation's top anti-graft watchdogs.

He ignored the central government's requirements for ecological and environmental protection in the Qinling Mountains and helped people develop hydropower plants there, destroying the local ecology, the statement said.

Jiao also exacerbated the government's hidden debt risk and created hidden financial security risks, the statement said.

He once held multiple positions under the Ministry of Finance. He was elected deputy commander of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps in June 2022.

Yi, 61, failed to fulfill his Party governance responsibilities, lusted for pleasure and abused his power, causing significant losses of public property, the watchdogs said.

Yi began working in 1983 and joined the Party in 1987. He spent his career in Hunan and served as vice-chairman of the CPPCC Hunan Provincial Committee from January 2018 to January 2023.

Hao, 60, evaded investigation, engaged in superstitious practices, failed to report his personal matters as required and sought personal gains in cadre selections, according to the statement.

He began working in 1984 and joined the Party in 1988. He spent his career in Liaoning province and became chairman of the CPPCC Dalian Committee in January 2022.

Ji, 59, failed to report his personal matters as required, sought benefits for his son in investment and business operations, colluded with businessmen and engaged in power and money trading, the statement said.

A native of Shandong province, he joined the Party in 1985 and began working in 1986. He spent his career in Shandong and became chairman of the CPPCC Qingdao Committee in March 2022.

The four were found to have violated the CPC Central Committee's eight-point frugality code, participated in banquets that might have affected their impartiality, and accepted properties, said the statement.