新年首虎 (xinnian shouhu): The first tiger of the new year

On Jan 4, the first day after the New Year holiday, the website of the Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Central Committee announced that Yang Weize, the Party chief of Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu province, was under investigation due to serious violation of the Party's discipline. Yang is the first provincial-level official investigated for suspected corruption in 2015, and the media is saying he is the first "tiger" to be caught this year. The downfall of Yang Weize marked the opening of the Party's anti-corruption campaign in 2015.

The past year was a milestone for the Party's anti-corruption efforts. Both "tigers" and "flies", which refer to senior and lower level corrupt officials, became targets of the anti-corruption campaign. In 2014 several provincial even national officials were investigated for graft, which shows the Party's resolution to fight against corruption.

Fighting against corruption is a daunting task that requires enormous courage and persistence. It is expected the anti-corruption campaign will continue in 2015.