China’s ‘beautiful governor’ Zhong Yang jailed over affairs with 58 subordinates

A Chinese leader known for her good looks has been jailed for having affairs with 58 male subordinates and accepting millions in bribes.

It’s good to be king. It’s great to be governor. Until you lose your head.

One of the Chinese Communist Party’s few female executives – the governor of Qiann prefecture, Guizhou province – has been jailed for 13 years and fined $A268,000 for professional misconduct.

The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reports Zhong Yang, 52, was convicted of engaging in sexual relations with 58 male subordinates and accepting about $16 million in bribes.

Zhong, dubbed by local media as “The Beautiful Governor” for her looks, joined the Communist Party at age 22.

She never married and had no children.

The former history student made a name for herself through a successful fruit and vegetable association helping local farmers and headlining charity work for the elderly.

The high point of her career was achieving the status of Deputy in the National People’s Congress.

Former governor of Qiann prefecture Zhong Yang has been accused of having sex with 58 male subordinates and accepting $16 million in bribes. Picture: South China Morning Post

“My corruption came from the misguided belief that I needed to cultivate a few trusted businessmen to help me handle political issues,” Zhang was shown saying in a recent interview.

“I can’t face my former colleagues, family members or the leaders who have cared for and nurtured me. I am truly ashamed and embarrassed.”

She went on to repent for her behaviour, saying her parents had sought to keep her grounded in Communist Party values by serving a humble meal of vegetables and boiled tofu every Chinese New Year.

“They told me … that my work and life should be like the dish, clean and pure,” she said.

“I accepted it every year and ate the food, but I didn’t take their advice to heart.”

Power corrupts

“According to reports from NetEase News, along with her pursuit of power and wealth, Zhong engaged in numerous affairs with male subordinates, using excuses like ‘working overtime’ and ‘business trips’ to spend time with her male lovers,” the SCMP reads.

“Zhong is said to have had 58 lovers and was frequently seen in private nightclubs, reportedly carrying condoms in her handbag.”

Zhong, also the Communist Party Secretary for the prefecture, was the subject of an expose by local Communist Party-controlled media – the Guizhou Radio and Television Network.

The January report also accused the former governor of using her position of authority to grant government investment and contracts in exchange for bribes.

“A private business owner has alleged that Zhong neglected companies without personal ties to her, which stifled the growth of private businesses in the region,” the SCMP adds.

She never married and had no children. Picture: China Daily

It cites the fast-tracked approval of a 170,000 square metre industrial estate for a businessman with which she was having a relationship as an example. Zhong then allowed a residential real estate complex to be built in its place.

State-controlled media reports Zhong fell under suspicion in April 2023. The Guizhou Provincial Discipline and Supervision Committee accused her of “disciplinary and legal violations”. The SCMP added that this included engaging in affairs with numerous male employees and Communist Party subordinates.

The Governor was stripped of office and expelled from the Communist Party in September last year. She also lost her role in the National People’s Congress.

Zhong was formally convicted earlier this month.

State of turmoil

Zhong’s conviction comes as yet another high-profile Chinese official appears to have been “disappeared”.

High-profile economist Zhu Hengpeng was reportedly detained in June after commenting in a private WeChat group about the state of the Chinese economy and measures to bring it back under control.

Chinese President Xi Jinping promised to tackle rampant corruption at all levels of society. Picture: Li Gang/Xinhua via Getty Images

He’s not been seen since.

State-controlled media asserts Zhu “improperly discussed central policies” in the private group chat. The Wall Street Journal adds that he also referenced Xi’s leadership and mortality.

No charges have yet been made public.

Chairman Xi came to power in 2013, promising to tackle rampant corruption at all levels of society.

He’s delivered.

By 2021, his Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) had reportedly investigated four million members of government and the Communist Party. Some 3.7 million had been found guilty (a conviction rate of more than 92 per cent).

Chairman Xi has been accused of using the corruption probe to purge political opponents to install loyalists of his own in their place.

Xi has been accused of using the corruption probe to purge political opponents to install loyalists of his own in their place. Picture: Xinhua/Ju Peng

But economics analysts Branko Milanovic and Li Yang argue in the research journal Foreign Affairs that an analysis of publicly available Communist Party data reveals widespread corruption has contributed significantly to China’s growing inequality.

“A detailed analysis of CCDI data reveals a pattern: not only was corruption among the people at the top of the Communist Party’s bureaucratic and technocratic hierarchy very high (in terms of average sums of money embezzled); it also contributed significantly to inequality, entrenching the already wealthy in an even more impregnable upper class,” Milanovic and Li write.

“The conspicuous consumption of members of the elite and their way of life make the corruption evident to observers.

“Xi’s campaign, whatever its political motivation, is likely reducing income inequality and, perhaps more importantly from the authorities’ point of view, curbing excessively high income and the concurrent flaunting of such wealth.”

Jamie Seidel is a freelance writer | @JamieSeidel

Originally published as China’s ‘beautiful governor’ Zhong Yang jailed over affairs with 58 subordinates