The Guardian-Former Bank of China boss arrested on corruption charges
October 16, 2023 2 min 379 words
这则报道揭示了中国反腐败行动的力度，特别是在金融领域。前中国银行的高管刘连戈因受贿和非法放贷被逮捕，这显示了中共中央纪律检查委员会（CCDI）对金融行业的严密监控。习近平总书记一直将反腐败视为政治工程的重要组成部分，此次金融界的调查也是他在巩固领导地位的过程中的一部分。 自2021年底开始针对金融领域的调查以来，一大批银行家和金融从业者都面临了调查。CCDI警告金融界应杜绝“享乐主义”和“高端生活方式”，而银行据报道已经减少了高管的奖金和薪酬。这一行动旨在确保金融领域服务实体经济，因为中国经济增长放缓，青年失业率居高不下。 这则报道也提到了其他在金融界面临调查或被起诉的人，包括中国明星基金经理王亚伟和中国最大的保险公司之一中国人寿保险的前董事长王斌。刘连戈面临的指控众多，涵盖了意识形态和金融治理等多个方面。 中国银行作为中国四大国有银行之一，在全球金融稳定中具有重要地位，这使其成为全球金融体系的关键组成部分。此案突显了反腐败行动的广泛性和对金融体系的监管强度。
China has arrested the former head of one of the country’s largest commercial banks on charges of accepting bribes and illegally granting loans, amid a two-year anti-corruption drive targeting the financial sector.
China’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), which is investigating corruption within the ruling Communist party, said on Monday that Liu Liange had been arrested, after announcing the start of the investigation in March.
President Xi Jinping has made fighting corruption a key part of his political project as he has cemented his position as paramount leader. A wave of bankers and financiers have faced investigation since authorities started targeting the financial sector in late 2021.
The CCDI has warned the financial sector against “hedonism” and “high-end lifestyles”, while banks have reportedly reduced bonuses and pay for top staff.
Xi has long said that the financial sector must serve the real economy, which is struggling with slowing growth and high youth unemployment.
Other people in the financial sector under investigation or charged include Wang Yawei, a star fund manager in China, according to Reuters. Wang Bin, the former chair of China Life Insurance, one of China’s biggest insurers, will spend the rest of his life in prison after a court last month found him guilty of corruption and gave him a suspended death sentence.
Liu was expelled from the Communist party last week, after accusations by the CCDI that he brought prohibited publications into the country, illegally took bribes and accepted entertainment at private clubs and ski resorts.
The list of accusations against him was long and included ideological failings such as abandoning his beliefs and being unwilling to implement Communist party decisions, and financial and governance failings.
Bank of China is one of the “big four” state-owned Chinese banks. It ranks as one of the top 11 banks in importance to global financial stability, making it a key part of the global financial system, according to the Financial Stability Board, and is the fourth largest bank by assets in the world, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.
It is owned by the Chinese state but operates commercially, as opposed to the People’s Bank of China, the central bank.
Bank of China was approached for comment.