Former Shenzhen mayor Qin Weizhong under graft probe by China’s discipline body

Former Shenzhen mayor Qin Weizhong is currently the subject of a corruption investigation by China's top discipline body, according to a statement released on Monday. The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection confirmed that Qin is suspected of "grave disciplinary and law violations" and is undergoing review, a process typically associated with a corruption probe.

Qin assumed the roles of deputy party secretary and mayor of Shenzhen in May 2021, but was subsequently replaced by banking executive Li Yun on August 24. Qin announced his resignation due to a "change in work post," with no further specifics provided. Despite this, Shenzhen is scheduled to host Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings, including a leaders' summit, in November.

As of now, Qin has not been removed as an alternate member of the party's 20th Central Committee, with the 21st party congress set to take place in the following year. Qin's last public appearance was on August 28, when he attended a meeting of the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress Standing Committee to discuss economic performance oversight aimed at developing a modern industrial system.

Prior to his tenure in Shenzhen, Qin was responsible for housing, environmental affairs, and big data management in Guangdong province. Holding a PhD in chemical engineering from Tsinghua University in Beijing, Qin previously served as a deputy general manager at the China National Petroleum Corporation. He was appointed vice-governor of Guangdong in 2019.

During his time in Shenzhen, Qin worked under Communist Party chief Wang Weizhong, another Tsinghua alumnus and President Xi Jinping's alma mater. Qin's career intersected with Ma Xingrui, a Politburo member and former party boss of Xinjiang, who was investigated in April, stripped of party membership, and dismissed from public office in July.

Ma served as party chief of Shenzhen from 2015 to 2016 before becoming governor of Guangdong, while Qin was Guangdong's vice-governor from 2019 to 2021.