Advertisement

China sacks head of state asset regulator Jiang Jiemin amid graft probe

Reading Time:1 minute
Why you can trust SCMP
Jiang Jiemin. Photo: AP

Top Chinese economic official Jiang Jiemin has been sacked as head of the body overseeing state-owned companies for "suspected serious disciplinary violations", the official Xinhua news agency reported on Tuesday.

Advertisement

The phrase is normally used as code for corruption in China, and the move comes as the country's leaders step up a campaign against graft.

Xinhua cited the powerful Organisation Department of the ruling Communist party.

Jiang was removed from office as head of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) of the State Council, it said.

The inquiry into Jiang was only announced on Sunday, and reports said it was focusing on China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), the giant state-owned oil company he headed before being promoted to the SASAC post earlier this year.

Advertisement

Xi Jinping -- who took office as party chief last November and as president in March -- has warned corruption could destroy the party and has threatened to expose high-ranking officials, or "tigers", along with low-level "flies".

Advertisement