Zhou Xianwang, Who Served as Wuhan Mayor During Pandemic, Indicted for Massive Bribery
Zhou Xianwang, former mayor of Wuhan during the COVID-19 outbreak in late 2019, has been indicted for allegedly accepting a 'particularly huge amount' of bribes. He was previously expelled from the Communist Party and public office.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 16, 2026 at 20:31
- 🔍 Collected: April 16, 2026 at 21:02 (30 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 18, 2026 at 23:55 (50h 53m after Collected)
Central News Agency (CNA) - Taipei, April 16 - Zhou Xianwang, who served as Wuhan Mayor when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in late 2019, has been indicted by the Shangqiu Municipal People's Procuratorate in Henan Province for allegedly accepting a 'particularly huge amount' of bribes, following his announcement of 'Shuang Kai' (expulsion from the Communist Party of China and dismissal from public office) in January of this year. The prosecution accuses Zhou Xianwang of using the convenience of his positions, or conditions created by his power or status, 'to seek benefits for others and illegally accept a particularly huge amount of property from others,' thus legally warranting criminal responsibility for bribery.
The Supreme People's Procuratorate announced today that the case of Zhou Xianwang, suspected of bribery, was previously investigated and concluded by China's National Supervisory Commission. The Procuratorate then designated the Shangqiu Municipal People's Procuratorate to review the case. After investigation, the Shangqiu Municipal People's Procuratorate indicted Zhou Xianwang, and the case will be transferred to the Shangqiu Intermediate People's Court for trial.
The prosecution alleges that Zhou Xianwang abused his convenience in his positions, such as Deputy Secretary and Governor of the CPC Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in Hubei Province, Director of the Hubei Provincial Department of Commerce, Secretary of the CPC Huangshi Municipal Committee, Vice Governor of Hubei Province, Deputy Secretary and Mayor of Wuhan City, Hubei Province, and Vice Chairman of the Hubei Provincial Committee of the CPPCC, as well as using his power or status to create convenient conditions 'to seek benefits for others and illegally accept a particularly huge amount of property from others,' thereby legally warranting criminal responsibility for bribery.
Public records show that Zhou Xianwang was born in November 1962 and is of Tujia ethnicity. He served in Hubei Province for a long time, holding the aforementioned positions. In July 2025, he was investigated by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission for alleged serious violations of discipline and law. In January of this year, he was announced to have undergone 'Shuang Kai,' with reasons including 'using public office for private gain, abusing power, engaging in large-scale power-for-money transactions,' 'posing risks of huge losses to state-owned assets,' and 'failure to manage and educate his son.'
During the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan in late 2019, Wuhan city and Hubei provincial officials were accused of inadequate response, leading to the rapid spread of the epidemic. Among them, then-Hubei Provincial Party Secretary Jiang Chaoliang, Hubei Governor Wang Xiaodong, Wuhan Municipal Party Secretary Ma Guoqiang, and Wuhan Mayor Zhou Xianwang became targets of public criticism. Subsequently, these four individuals were appointed to positions in the National People's Congress, CPPCC, and Hubei Provincial People's Congress and CPPCC.
Among the aforementioned four individuals, Jiang Chaoliang was the first to be investigated by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission in February 2025 for suspected serious violations of discipline and law. In October of the same year, he was further subjected to 'Shuang Kai,' and the criminal issues involved were transferred to the procuratorial organs for prosecution. Zhou Xianwang was the second person to be investigated and subjected to 'Shuang Kai.' (Editor: Qiu Guo-qiang / Zhang Zhi-xuan) 2026-04-16.
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The Supreme People's Procuratorate announced today that the case of Zhou Xianwang, suspected of bribery, was previously investigated and concluded by China's National Supervisory Commission. The Procuratorate then designated the Shangqiu Municipal People's Procuratorate to review the case. After investigation, the Shangqiu Municipal People's Procuratorate indicted Zhou Xianwang, and the case will be transferred to the Shangqiu Intermediate People's Court for trial.
The prosecution alleges that Zhou Xianwang abused his convenience in his positions, such as Deputy Secretary and Governor of the CPC Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in Hubei Province, Director of the Hubei Provincial Department of Commerce, Secretary of the CPC Huangshi Municipal Committee, Vice Governor of Hubei Province, Deputy Secretary and Mayor of Wuhan City, Hubei Province, and Vice Chairman of the Hubei Provincial Committee of the CPPCC, as well as using his power or status to create convenient conditions 'to seek benefits for others and illegally accept a particularly huge amount of property from others,' thereby legally warranting criminal responsibility for bribery.
Public records show that Zhou Xianwang was born in November 1962 and is of Tujia ethnicity. He served in Hubei Province for a long time, holding the aforementioned positions. In July 2025, he was investigated by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission for alleged serious violations of discipline and law. In January of this year, he was announced to have undergone 'Shuang Kai,' with reasons including 'using public office for private gain, abusing power, engaging in large-scale power-for-money transactions,' 'posing risks of huge losses to state-owned assets,' and 'failure to manage and educate his son.'
During the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan in late 2019, Wuhan city and Hubei provincial officials were accused of inadequate response, leading to the rapid spread of the epidemic. Among them, then-Hubei Provincial Party Secretary Jiang Chaoliang, Hubei Governor Wang Xiaodong, Wuhan Municipal Party Secretary Ma Guoqiang, and Wuhan Mayor Zhou Xianwang became targets of public criticism. Subsequently, these four individuals were appointed to positions in the National People's Congress, CPPCC, and Hubei Provincial People's Congress and CPPCC.
Among the aforementioned four individuals, Jiang Chaoliang was the first to be investigated by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission in February 2025 for suspected serious violations of discipline and law. In October of the same year, he was further subjected to 'Shuang Kai,' and the criminal issues involved were transferred to the procuratorial organs for prosecution. Zhou Xianwang was the second person to be investigated and subjected to 'Shuang Kai.' (Editor: Qiu Guo-qiang / Zhang Zhi-xuan) 2026-04-16.
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