Former CNNC Executive Gu Jun Expelled from Communist Party

Gu Jun, the former deputy party secretary and general manager of China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) for serious violations of discipline and law, the country’s top anti-corruption watchdog announced on July 25. The case, investigated by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) with approval from the CPC Central Committee, has been transferred to the procuratorate for criminal prosecution.

Context

CNNC is a centrally administered state-owned enterprise directly under the Chinese central government, with assets exceeding 1.6 trillion RMB (approximately $220 billion) and roughly 180,000 employees. It has received “A” ratings in assessments by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission for 20 consecutive years, underscoring its strategic importance to the nation’s nuclear energy ambitions. Gu’s case represents the latest development in China’s long-running anti-corruption campaign targeting the state-owned enterprise sector, an initiative that has intensified since President Xi Jinping launched a sweeping crackdown in 2012.

Key Developments

According to CCTV News, the investigation revealed that Gu had “lost his ideals and convictions” and abandoned his original mission. The CCDI found that he resisted organizational review, engaged in superstitious activities, and violated the Eight-Point Regulation by accepting gifts, banquets, and travel arrangements improperly.

The probe uncovered a pattern of serious misconduct extending over many years. Gu used his position to benefit others in employee recruitment, engaged in power-sex trades, and accepted massive bribes in exchange for project contracting, equipment procurement, and fund allocation. CCTV reported that Gu had “turned the public power entrusted by the Party and the people into a tool for personal gain,” amassing ill-gotten wealth through systematic abuse of authority.

A particularly aggravating factor, the CCDI noted, was that Gu did not cease his illegal activities after the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012 — the watershed moment when Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption drive began in earnest. This failure to reform, despite the Party’s widely publicized warnings, marked his conduct as especially serious.

Gu was first placed under investigation on January 19, 2026, and the probe concluded six months later with his formal expulsion. His retirement benefits have been cancelled, illegal gains confiscated, and the case referred for criminal prosecution.

A Career in Nuclear Energy

A nuclear engineer by training, Gu graduated from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 1983 and joined the CPC in 1989. He spent more than four decades rising through the ranks of China’s nuclear energy sector, holding leadership roles at Qinshan Third Nuclear Power Company, Sanmen Nuclear Power Company, and State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation (SNPTC). He later served as general manager and deputy party secretary of China Nuclear Engineering and Construction Corporation (CNEC).

Following the merger of CNEC and CNNC in 2018, Gu became the general manager and deputy party secretary of the newly combined entity, a position he held until his tenure ended in January 2024. At its peak, his career placed him among the most senior executives in one of China’s most strategically vital industrial sectors.

Analysis

The Gu Jun case underscores the continued intensity of China’s anti-corruption campaign, particularly its focus on centrally administered state-owned enterprises. CNNC sits at the heart of China’s nuclear energy strategy, making leadership integrity in this sector a matter of both economic and national security concern. The swift progression from investigation to expulsion and criminal referral within six months signals that authorities are maintaining an aggressive enforcement pace.

This case also demonstrates that seniority and long service offer no shield from scrutiny. Gu’s career spanned more than four decades across virtually every major institution in China’s nuclear industry, yet the investigation reached into every aspect of his tenure. The message to executives across China’s SOE landscape is unmistakable: no position, however senior, is beyond the reach of the CCDI.

What’s Next

Gu Jun now faces criminal prosecution, with his case transferred to the procuratorate. If convicted on corruption charges, he is likely to receive a substantial prison sentence consistent with standard practice for high-level anti-corruption cases in China. Beyond the individual case, his expulsion serves as a continued warning to executives across China’s state-owned enterprise sector that the Party’s anti-corruption campaign shows no signs of abating, particularly in industries deemed critical to national strategic interests.