Typical cases of violations, disciplinary breaches, and illegal acts in the field of national industry associations and chambers of commerce
In recent years, national industry associations and chambers of commerce and other social organizations have adhered to party building leadership, actively leveraged their own advantages, innovated and explored, and played an important role in serving economic and social development. At the same time, some national industry associations and chambers of commerce have had low political standing, weak awareness of discipline and rules, and chaotic internal management, seriously damaging the overall image and credibility of national industry associations and chambers of commerce. Relevant departments have cracked down heavily on various irregularities and continued to promote the standardized and healthy development of national industry associations and chambers of commerce and other social organizations. Since 2026, 14 national industry associations and chambers of commerce whose personnel did not meet the qualification requirements were rejected, 33 heads of these organizations who exceeded the age or term limits were urged to step down, and 35 heads of 22 national industry associations and chambers of commerce were removed from office. The disciplinary inspection and supervision groups of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and National Supervisory Commission stationed at the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Discipline Inspection Commission of national industry associations and chambers of commerce have focused on the field of national industry associations and chambers of commerce, deepening the rectification of style, discipline, and corruption. Since 2026, a total of 879 relevant problem clues have been accepted and 736 handled; 165 cases involving 39 individuals underwent inquiry by letter or conversation; 65 cases involving 19 individuals underwent preliminary verification; 50 cases involving 14 individuals were filed for investigation, including 7 detention cases and 14 individuals subjected to detention measures or criminal coercive measures; and 28 individuals were criticized and dealt with using the "four forms". To further strengthen the deterrent effect of warnings, seven typical cases of violations, disciplinary breaches, and illegal acts in the field of national industry associations and chambers of commerce are hereby published.
Case Study 1: Wang, former Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the China Electricity Council, was severely disciplined for serious violations of discipline and law, suspected of committing crimes in his official capacity. Wang violated political discipline by resisting organizational review; violated the spirit of the Central Eight-point Regulation by accepting banquets that could affect the impartial execution of official duties; violated organizational discipline by failing to truthfully explain issues to the organization during interviews; violated integrity discipline by accepting equity that could affect the impartial execution of official duties and receiving dividends; suspected of bribery. Wang was expelled from the Party and removed from office, and the suspected criminal matters were transferred to judicial authorities for handling.
Case Study 2: Huo, former President of the China World Ethnic Cultural Exchange and Promotion Association, seriously violated party discipline. Huo violated the spirit of the Central Eight-point Regulation by accepting gift money that could affect the impartial execution of official duties, transferring expenses that should have been paid by himself to others, using official vehicles for private purposes and maintaining private vehicles at public expense including fuel and toll fees, taking detours for tourism under the guise of official business and claiming flight tickets and travel allowances, engaging in unauthorized part-time work for remuneration, and engaging in profit-making activities in violation of regulations. Huo also had other irregular disciplinary issues and was expelled from the Party and removed from office.
Case Study 3: The China Association of Plastic Surgery violated regulations by awarding a plaque. The China Association of Plastic Surgery illegally awarded the title "Capital of China's Medical Aesthetics Anti-Aging Industry" to a certain location. Previously, the association had been ordered to rectify similar behaviors but continued to violate regulations despite being warned. The China Association of Plastic Surgery was ordered to revoke the titles it illegally awarded; Zhang, Party branch secretary of the association, Zhao, part-time vice president, Li, part-time vice president, and Zhu, executive deputy secretary-general, bore leadership responsibility and were removed from office; Liu, head of the branch, bore direct responsibility, was removed from office, and was included in the list of persons unsuitable to serve as heads of national industry associations and chambers of commerce.
Case Study 4: China Urban Rail Transit Association illegally added executives. The China Urban Rail Transit Association appointed 13 vice presidents without approval and announced them as executives on the association's official website, allowing relevant personnel to conduct activities in the capacity of vice presidents. It was ordered to rectify the situation. The association president Bi, executive vice president Zhou, and vice president兼 secretary-general and party branch secretary Song were held accountable for leadership responsibilities and were removed from their positions.
Case Study 5: China Federation of Commerce "Exemption from Exam by Selling Certificates". In skill assessment projects such as tea art masters, the China Federation of Commerce did not strictly implement national vocational skill standards, delegated key links to cooperating units, and took the opportunity to collect large operating service fees. There were cases where staff of cooperating units "took exams on behalf" and students "paid money to bypass exams and obtain certificates". The China Federation of Commerce was ordered to suspend all skill assessment projects, and clues regarding violations and disciplinary issues and information about relevant personnel were transferred to relevant departments for further handling.
Case Study 6: China Civil Airport Association illegally paid remuneration to retired part-time staff. Wang, former chairman and party branch secretary of the China Civil Airport Association, violated relevant regulations by illegally paying remuneration to retired part-time staff, including himself. The China Civil Airport Association was ordered to rectify the situation; Wang was given a severe party warning and removed from his position; illicit gains from retired part-time staff were confiscated.
Case Study 7: Liu, Party Branch Secretary and Chairman of the China Bicycle Association, violated the spirit of the Central Eight-point Regulation and breached integrity and work discipline. Liu improperly decided to pay remuneration to Wang, a retired part-time cadre serving as Deputy Secretary-General; after being pointed out regarding relevant issues, he compromised on rectification measures and sought loopholes. Liu also failed to strictly manage affiliated units, leading to situations such as reimbursing expenses for exhibition hospitality wine under the guise of conference service fees, resulting in a party warning处分。
Source: Information and Publicity Center of the Ministry of Social Affairs