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Justlast week, a Chinese company was exposed for the illegal harvesting, theft, and resale of thousands of corpses, some of which were taken from funeral homes read more
 "China’s funeral sector is riddled with corruption")
China Uncovers Deep-Rooted Corruption in Funeral Services. AP
China has uncovered extensive corruption within its funeral services sector, according to state media reports on Wednesday, revealing a range of offences including illegal fees and unauthorised cemetery operations committed by long-serving managers and officials of funeral establishments.
This news follows closely on the heels of a scandal involving a Chinese company, which was exposed last week for the illegal harvesting, theft, and resale of thousands of corpses, some of which were taken from funeral homes. The scandal gained widespread attention after a report by the state-backed outlet, the Paper, went viral on social media.
Disciplinary authorities across multiple provinces—Anhui, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Sichuan, and Yunnan—have been investigating the funeral industry since the beginning of the year. The state-run China Daily reported on Wednesday that these investigations have led to numerous accusations of misconduct by employees of funeral parlours and related entities. Dozens of cases have surfaced since the investigations commenced, many involving individuals with deep experience in the industry.
China has been aggressively targeting corruption across various sectors since the start of the year, continuing a rigorous anti-graft campaign that President Xi Jinping has been pursuing since he assumed office in 2012.
In provinces such as Anhui, Liaoning, and Jilin, anti-corruption efforts revealed instances of funeral parlours charging unlawful fees, as well as illegal cemetery construction and operations, alongside staff corruption, according to the Global Times, which serves as a mouthpiece for the ruling Communist Party.
In the eastern province of Anhui, Communist Party investigators have detained Zhang Duo, an employee of the Panji district funeral home in Huainan city, for “suspected serious violations of discipline and law,” a phrase commonly used to describe corruption cases. Zhang was not immediately available for comment.
In the southwestern province of Sichuan, disciplinary officials in the city of Dazhou have taken action against 89 individuals, detaining six, as reported by China Daily. Additionally, a manager with over 30 years of experience in the funeral industry, surnamed Yang, is under investigation in Quxian county, although details were not disclosed.
Authorities in northeastern Jilin have also intensified efforts to address corruption and misconduct within the funeral industry in response to public complaints, state media noted.
The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), China’s top anti-graft watchdog, has reaffirmed its commitment to executing President Xi’s directives to root out corrupt and disloyal officials. The CCDI’s website has repeatedly underscored the necessity of maintaining a firm stance against corruption, bribery, and the underlying issues that contribute to these problems.
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English (US) ·