Former China Securities Regulator Fang Xinghai Investigated for Discipline Violations

China's top anti‑corruption body, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, announced on July 24 that Fang Xinghai, the former vice chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, is under investigation for "serious violations of discipline and law." Fang, a Stanford‑trained economist who once served in Shanghai's financial service office and held senior positions at the CSRC for nearly nine years, is known for close ties to party leader Xi Jinping. The probe is part of a broader crackdown on senior officials in the country's financial bureaucracy, which has already seen several former CSRC chairmen and deputies investigated or disciplined.

Analysts say the timing, ahead of the Communist Party's 21st National Congress, signals intensified internal power struggles. Fang's recent public appearances, including at the World Economic Forum in Tianjin, contrast with his sudden fall from grace, highlighting the political dimension of China's financial sector reforms and anti‑corruption campaign.