Fujian officials, including Zhang Yigong, face anti‑corruption probe

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection has placed Quanzhou party secretary Zhang Yigong under investigation for serious violations of party discipline. Zhang, a longtime associate of Politburo member and Vice‑Premier He Lifeng, rose through the ranks of Xiamen before being transferred to Quanzhou in 2023. His probe follows a half‑month wave in which at least five senior Fujian officials were detained, including former provincial bank deputy head, former heads of the Fuzhou Economic‑Technical Development Zone, and senior executives of China Telecom Fujian.

The crackdown coincides with the July 9 fire at a shoe factory in Jinjiang that killed at least 28 workers. While seven factory supervisors were criminally detained, Zhang was not present at the scene but later inspected safety measures in Jinjiang and Fengze. Analysts view the anti‑corruption drive as part of a broader power reshuffle ahead of the 21st Party Congress, targeting officials linked to former Fujian leaders and the “Fujian old guard” associated with President Xi Jinping’s early career.

The investigations have also implicated other local cadres, with eight additional Quanzhou officials reportedly under scrutiny since early 2026. The purge underscores ongoing efforts by Beijing to consolidate authority and eliminate factional networks within the province.