By staff writer
China’s fight against corruption is expected to remain a central governance priority in 2026, building on a campaign that has been sustained, institutionalized and increasingly data-driven over more than a decade. Official figures released by China’s top disciplinary and supervisory bodies show that the anti-corruption drive has continued to operate at high intensity in recent years, while also shifting its emphasis toward deeper, structural problems that allow corruption to persist.
According to data from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) and the National Supervisory Commission, China’s anti-corruption authorities handled hundreds of thousands of cases annually in 2024 and 2025. In 2024 alone, disciplinary inspection and supervision organs across the country investigated and dealt with more than 870,000 corruption and misconduct cases, resulting in disciplinary or administrative penalties for a similar number of individuals. These cases covered a wide range of violations, including bribery, abuse of power, dereliction of duty and violations of Party discipline. Notably, enforcement was not limited to low-level officials. According to official sources, a record number of senior officials at the ministerial and provincial levels were placed under investigation during the year, reinforcing the long-standing principle that there are “no forbidden zones” in the fight against corruption.
Official data also highlight the campaign’s expanding reach at the grassroots level, where corruption often has the most direct impact on citizens’ daily lives. In targeted nationwide initiatives aimed at township and village governance, hundreds of thousands of grassroots officials were disciplined for misconduct related to land use, social welfare distribution, rural revitalization funds and public service delivery. Authorities reported that tens of thousands of these cases were serious enough to be transferred to procuratorial organs for criminal prosecution. The focus on grassroots corruption reflects an effort to address public concerns more directly and to strengthen trust in local governance.
Another important aspect of the campaign has been the pursuit of corruption fugitives and illicit assets overseas. Under operations commonly referred to as “Sky Net,” Chinese authorities have continued to cooperate with foreign jurisdictions and international organizations. In 2024, more than a thousand fugitives were returned to China, and over 15 billion yuan in illegally obtained assets were recovered. These figures underscore the campaign’s increasing emphasis on cutting off escape routes for corrupt officials and recovering economic losses caused by corruption.
Despite these results, official assessments have consistently acknowledged that corruption remains a complex and recurring challenge. Discipline inspection authorities note that new cases continue to emerge, sometimes involving more hidden and sophisticated methods, particularly in sectors such as finance, state-owned enterprises, infrastructure construction and resource management. This recognition has shaped expectations for the next phase of the campaign.
Looking ahead to 2026, policy signals suggest that China’s anti-corruption efforts will remain firm while becoming more systematic and preventive. As the country enters a new stage of medium- and long-term planning, anti-corruption work is expected to be further integrated into broader governance reforms. This includes strengthening supervision mechanisms, improving internal controls within Party and government institutions, and enhancing coordination between disciplinary bodies, supervisory commissions, auditing agencies and judicial organs.
Technology is also likely to play a larger role. Authorities have indicated that big-data analysis and digital supervision platforms will be expanded to better detect abnormal transactions, power-renting behaviors and networks of interest exchange. At the same time, greater emphasis is expected on education and institutional constraints, with the aim of reducing opportunities and incentives for corruption rather than relying solely on post-factum punishment.
In sum, official data show that China’s anti-corruption campaign has produced measurable results while remaining under sustained pressure. As 2026 approaches, the campaign is set to continue not as a short-term crackdown, but as a long-term governance strategy focused on accountability, prevention and institutional integrity, reflecting the leadership’s view that clean governance is essential to political stability and economic development.
