By Li Jingyao, Vision Times
Politburo member Ma Xingrui and leading anti-corruption chief Li Xi were both absent from the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) 23rd collective study session, fueling speculation of a widening corruption probe targeting top CCP officials. New leaks now allege Ma’s case involves more than 100 billion yuan, with financial ties reaching Li Xi and Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Observers say signs of political fallout are already visible. The Politburo serves as China’s top ruling body.
Anti-CCP commentator Jiang Wangzheng claims Li Xi is implicated through his wife, who “very early on worked on projects in Hong Kong with Ma Xingrui’s wife, Rong Li.” He adds that “Rong Li, Li Xi’s wife, and Peng Liyuan belong to the ‘wives’ faction.”
RELATED: Reports: Ma Xingrui and Wife Detained as Xi’s Inner Security Network Dwindles
Li Xi and Peng Liyuan reportedly linked to Ma’s network
Jiang previously reported Ma was quietly detained at the Huangshan high-level retention center and predicted he would become “the first tiger of 2026.” On Dec. 4, he stated that Ma and recently purged Xinjiang vice chairman Chen Weijun were part of the same “窝案” (meaning a nested corruption case).
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He further revealed that Ma’s personal secretary has confessed, Ma’s brother has been detained, and Ma’s daughter is under semi-house arrest in Beijing, where “she can still use her phone, but what she can post has been restricted.” Reports say authorities have now taken into custody:
- Senior Xinjiang officials promoted by Ma
- More than ten businessmen connected to Ma’s family
- Zhang Simin, chairman of Shenzhen Haiwang Group, held by CCDI investigators
The case reportedly also directly implicates former Xinjiang Party Secretary Chen Quanguo, a key figure in Xi Jinping’s faction. Jiang notes: “Chen Quanguo’s situation is extremely precarious.”
Initial estimates suggest “Ma Xingrui’s case involves over one hundred billion yuan,” with leaks asserting that such a large pool of funds must have been divided among “highly sensitive figures — foremost among them Peng Liyuan and Li Xi.”
Half of Xi’s inner circle could fall
Commentator Tang Jingyuan argues the case was not initiated by Xi himself: “This is absolutely not Xi still holding absolute power, reluctantly executing a loyal general. This case keeps expanding — as if they fear not catching enough.”
RELATED: Hu–Wen Bloc Dismantles Xi’s Power Base as the ‘Zhejiang Faction’ Faces Collapse
Tang notes that the widening probe now touches Peng Liyuan, Chen Quanguo, Vice Premier Liu Guozhong, Beijing Party Secretary Yin Li, and NDRC Director Li Chunlin. He concludes the investigation could “knock out half of Xi’s core faction.”
Peng’s recent appearance at a World AIDS Day event reflected unusual treatment not in keeping with typical protocol, analysts noted. This included state media avoided naming her in the opening sentence, Peng being accompanied only by vice-ministerial officials, unlike previous years, and coverage appearing only on the National Health Commission’s website, with no reporting from state medias Xinhua or People’s Daily. Tang notes these signs show “Peng Liyuan’s status has been significantly downgraded.”
Veteran analyst Guo Jun says Ma’s network spans Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hainan, Sichuan, Xinjiang, aerospace sectors, and national industry ministries. “Most critically, Ma Xingrui’s downfall has an enormous deterrent effect on Xi Jinping’s family and Xi’s entire faction,” notes Guo.
Editorial note: The accounts, claims, and allegations referenced in this report come from publicly available Chinese-language media, commentators, and online discussions. Some details cannot be independently verified and should be treated as speculation, not fact.
