China’s ex-industry tsar, Xiao Yaqing, expelled from Communist Party for taking bribes

Xiao demoted to one of the lowest rungs in the civil service but avoids prosecution after admitting errors and repaying cash

The official gained a reputation as a capable administrator after turning around a loss-making aluminium plant

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Xiao Yaqing had a reputation as a capable administrator but has been demoted for taking bribes. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 7:12pm, 19 Dec 2022Updated: 10:16pm, 19 Dec 2022

A former government minister who oversaw China’s drive to surpass the US in technology and manufacturing has been expelled from the Communist Party after anti-corruption investigators concluded he had taken bribes.

Xiao Yaqing, the minister of industry and information technology from 2020 to July this year, was demoted to one of the lowest government ranks and sent into retirement, but avoided prosecution.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), the country’s top anti-corruption watchdog, said on Monday that Xiao, 63, had accepted banquet invitations that might have affected the fair execution of his official duties.

Furthermore, he had “lost his bottom line on discipline and law”, could not draw a clear line between government and business and took a large amount of cash bribes from others, it said.

“Xiao seriously violated the party’s discipline and the law, and did not restrain himself after the 18th party congress [in 2012],” the announcement said. “This is a violation of a serious nature and should be dealt with severely.”

But it said Xiao, who came under investigation in July, was quick to admit his mistakes, show regret and fully repay all his illegal income, and so qualified for leniency. As such, authorities decided to expel him from the party and remove him from current position.

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