‘Tigers and flies’: Millions of officials later, why is Xi’s corruption purge still going?
‘Tigers and flies’: Millions of officials later, why is Xi’s corruption purge still going?
As the National People’s Congress wrapped up its proceedings in Beijing, thousands of delegates gathered in the cavernous Great Hall of the People for a pivotal moment in China’s political landscape. Yet, the event’s atmosphere was marked by the absence of several high-ranking officials, including former allies of President Xi Jinping. Over 100 delegates were missing from the opening session, caught in a wave of dismissals that has continued relentlessly in recent years.
The roots of the purge
Xi’s anti-corruption crusade began when he assumed leadership of the Communist Party in 2012. A decade later, it remains a central pillar of his governance, shaping the political scene with unrelenting scrutiny. The campaign’s focus on both “tigers” (senior leaders) and “flies” (grassroots officials) has led to millions of disciplinary actions, dismissals, and imprisonments. This systematic effort reflects a broader strategy to reinforce control and eliminate perceived threats.
“The surprise is not that people are taking inducements or backhanders, the surprise is that there’s people that don’t do that… So I think some of these people have been removed because of corruption, pure and simple,” said Professor Kerry Brown of King’s College London.
Xi’s predecessors, such as Hu Jintao, had warned about the corrosive impact of corruption on public trust. The Communist Party, with over 100 million members, has long faced challenges from an entrenched system where officials often lack adequate pay and power is concentrated among a small elite. “Corruption had become endemic,” Brown noted, highlighting the need for decisive action.
In 2025 alone, nearly one million individuals were disciplined by China’s top anti-graft body. State media reported that 10 “tigers” were recently targeted, underscoring the campaign’s ongoing momentum. However, the scale of these measures raises questions about their effectiveness and motivations.
“To be disciplined covers anything from just being told off, to getting a nasty letter saying don’t do this again, right up to getting put in prison and expelled from the party,” Brown explained.
Experts suggest the campaign serves dual purposes: it is both a tool for internal discipline and a means to consolidate power. “Xi’s anti-corruption drive has always been about both corruption and politics,” said Neil Thomas from the Asia Society Policy Institute. “It is an effort to make the party a more effective governing machine and a cudgel to remove political enemies.”
Despite early purges, corruption persists. The Mercator Institute for China Studies (Merics) pointed out that even after military cleanups years ago, “ranks and promotions were routinely up for sale, and bribery was rampant.” Without robust checks and balances, the party remains vulnerable to internal decay, according to Brown.
“The only reason that new cases keep emerging is because ‘the more you dig, the deeper you get,’” Helena Legarda, a Merics researcher, remarked.
As China’s economic influence expands, the anti-corruption drive has become a symbol of Xi’s leadership. Billions are being invested in technologies like advanced chips, artificial intelligence, and renewable energy, with the campaign playing a key role in maintaining political stability and public confidence in the government’s direction.
