China’s former market regulator head to be tried for graft

Former head of China's financial markets regulator, Yi Huiman, will face corruption charges, according to state media on Wednesday. This comes as part of Beijing's extensive anti-graft campaign. Yi, who is presently in custody, was one of many officials who have been negatively affected by the anti-corruption campaign initiated by President Xi Jinping since his inauguration in 2012.

He allegedly misused his positions, including being chairman of the Securities Regulatory Commission and in the banking sector, to accept substantial bribes, benefit others, and unlawfully receive property from others, as reported by Xinhua, the official state news agency. Yi was in charge of the China Securities Regulatory Commission from 2019 to 2024, a period marked by financial market difficulties and a slowdown in China's second-largest economy.

It was announced in September 2025 that he was under investigation. The China Securities Regulatory Commission's former vice-chairman, Yao Gang, was given an 18-year prison sentence for insider dealing and corruption in 2018. China's military has also undergone a purge of top officials, including the nation's most senior general, who are currently under investigation for corruption allegations.

Two previous defense ministers were recently given suspended death sentences after being found guilty on corruption charges.