Former senior Hubei official expelled, illicit gains confiscated

Zhou Xianwang, former vice-chairman of the Hubei Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China and dismissed from public office for serious violations of Party discipline and national laws, China's top anti-corruption bodies said on Sunday.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission said Zhou's illicit gains had been confiscated and his suspected criminal offenses transferred to procuratorial authorities for examination and prosecution, along with the related assets.

An investigation found that Zhou engaged in superstitious activities and accepted banquets, travel arrangements and other benefits that could compromise the impartial performance of his duties. He failed to report personal matters as required and sought benefits for others while accepting money and valuables in cadre selection and appointment, staff recruitment and other work.

Investigators said Zhou abused his power to help others secure positions, contracts and funding, sought improper benefits for relatives' business operations, and accepted large sums of money and valuables in return. He was also found to have engaged extensively in power-for-sex and power-for-money transactions.

In addition, Zhou failed to properly perform his duties, creating risks of major losses of state-owned assets. Authorities said he led a corrupt and degenerate lifestyle, maintained a poor family tradition, and failed to supervise and educate his son.

Zhou, 63, is a native of Hubei province and joined the Party in January 1987. He spent his entire career working in the province, previously serving as governor of Enshi Tujia and Miao autonomous prefecture, head of the provincial commerce department, Party secretary of Huangshi, mayor of Wuhan, and vice governor of Hubei.

He became vice-chairman of the Hubei Provincial Committee of the CPPCC in 2021 and stepped down from the post in 2023. He was placed under investigation in July 2025.