Former China Merchants Group executive expelled from CPC over serious violations

Li Baian, former deputy general manager of China Merchants Group, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China for serious violations of Party discipline and law, China's top anti-graft authorities said on Thursday.

The decision followed an investigation by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision. Investigators found that Li had resisted organizational review and violated the Party leadership's eight-point decision on improving conduct by improperly accepting banquets and entertainment arrangements.

Li was also found to have accepted money and valuables while assisting others in employee recruitment and job promotions, and to have improperly received gifts and cash. The statement said he had engaged in power-for-sex transactions.

In addition, Li abused his power in the field of engineering construction for personal gain, using his positions to seek benefits for others in project contracting and payment settlement, and illegally accepting a huge amount of money and valuables.

The authorities have revoked the benefits and entitlements he had enjoyed. His suspected crimes and illicit gains have been transferred to procuratorial authorities for review and prosecution.

Li, 61, is a native of Jiangsu province. He previously served as vice-president of China State Construction Engineering Corporation. At the end of 2019, he joined the Party committee of China Merchants Group, later serving as deputy general manager and general counsel of the group.

In April 2023, he was appointed executive deputy director of the administrative committee of the Qianhai and Shekou area of the China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone in Shenzhen. He was placed under investigation in November 2025.