Shanghai Vice Mayor Chen Yujian Under Investigation, P2P Old Case Gains Attention

Under the bustling night scene, Shanghai is no longer what it used to be! (Video Screenshot)

[People News] Chen Yujian, a member of the Party Leadership Group of the Shanghai Municipal Government and Vice Mayor, was reported to be under investigation on June 10. According to the website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission of the Communist Party of China, Chen Yujian is suspected of serious violations of discipline and law and is currently undergoing review and investigation. He previously held positions as the head of Songjiang District, the head of Minhang District, and the Secretary of the Minhang District Committee, and was promoted to Vice Mayor of Shanghai in December 2023.

Shanghai rights activist Mr Zheng told Radio Free Asia that Chen Yujian's investigation is not surprising within the Shanghai political landscape. He stated, "We all understand these leaders; which one can you investigate that has no issues? It really depends on whether the people they are associated with are still in power. If they are safe, then they are safe; but once those individuals fall from grace and new people come in, they could be investigated at any time. It seems he chose the wrong people to associate with."

Public records indicate that as Vice Mayor of Shanghai, Chen Yujian is responsible for agriculture and rural affairs, health and sanitation, medical security, cooperative exchanges, and the construction of the Hengsha Xinzhou Modern Agricultural Industrial Park, among other duties. The official website of the Shanghai Municipal Government previously indicated that he oversees departments such as the Municipal Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committee, the Municipal Health and Sanitation Committee, the Municipal Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the Municipal Medical Security Bureau, and the Office of Cooperative Exchanges of the Municipal Government.

Mr Zheng remarked that although Chinese Communist Party officials seem to wield power, their careers come with significant risks. He noted, 'When I encounter those in power, I tell them that their profession is also fraught with risks. They should not always act as if they are content; at any moment and in any place, because it is not all clean, and they are aware of it themselves. If things go awry, they could be arrested at any time. Do you think it is easy to maintain stability from start to finish? It is challenging; no one can guarantee whether those in higher positions will be removed.'

Resurfacing of Old P2P Cases

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection has not provided an explanation for the investigation into Chen Yujian. According to a report by Caixin, Chen Yujian was reported by netizens in 2019 for his involvement in issues related to the P2P platform Lianbi Financial during his tenure in Songjiang District. The report revealed that during his time as Deputy District Head of Songjiang in 2016, he also led the task force against illegal financial activities in the district. After receiving reports that Lianbi Financial was suspected of serving as a self-financing tool for Feixun and operating beyond its authorised scope, he did not address the matter promptly.

Mr Gu, a Shanghai resident, told reporters that the P2P issues in Shanghai at that time were extensive. He stated, 'When Chen Yujian was Deputy District Head of Songjiang in 2016, Han Zheng was the Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee. At that time, Chen Yujian supported P2P initiatives in Songjiang. In 2018, Lianbi Financial collapsed, and by the end of 2019, Chen Yujian was appointed Acting District Head of Minhang, after which he was reported to Beijing. At that time, someone was looking out for him.'

Lianbi Financial was once recognized as one of the four major 'high-return platforms' in China's P2P lending industry. According to a previous report by Caixin, Lianbi Financial was placed under investigation at the end of June 2018. The platform was associated with Shanghai Feixun's 'zero-cost purchase' model, which allowed consumers to activate cashback through the Lianbi Financial platform after buying Feixun routers. To receive additional cashback, consumers were required to purchase financial products offered by the platform.

The political landscape in Shanghai continues to experience turmoil.

Another aspect of Chen Yujian's career leads to Minhang. Media reports indicate that his colleague, Wang Xiangyang, who was a member of the Minhang District Committee and Deputy District Head at the time, was investigated in November 2024 and subsequently sentenced to 11 years in prison for bribery in April of this year.

Mr Gu remarked that Chen Yujian had previously served in both Songjiang and Minhang before being promoted to Vice Mayor of Shanghai, and his investigation suggests potential issues with his connections. He stated, 'For ordinary citizens, whether he gets caught or not isn't about his level of greed; every official is greedy. It’s more about which faction he aligns with and what his connections are. No matter how greedy you are, it doesn't affect the common people in the slightest.'

Chen Yujian's last public appearance occurred at the end of May. Reports indicate that from May 27 to 28, he led a delegation to Anhui for inspections, which included visits to semiconductor companies, packaging firms, hospitals, revolutionary museums, and rural revitalisation demonstration sites. Less than two weeks later, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection announced his investigation.

Chen Yujian was born in February 1970 in Tancheng, Shandong Province. He graduated from Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, earning a bachelor's degree in economics and a master's degree in public administration. He has spent a significant portion of his career in Shanghai, where he held various positions including deputy general manager of Shanghai Investment Consulting Company, director of the High-tech Industry Department at the Shanghai Development and Reform Commission, director of the Fixed Asset Investment Department, and deputy chief economist. After 2011, he transitioned into the district-level government system, serving as deputy district head of Yangpu District, deputy district head of Songjiang District, district head of Songjiang District, district head of Minhang District, and secretary of the Minhang District Committee.

Currently, authorities have not revealed whether Chen Yujian's investigation is connected to the Lianbi Financial case or other related cases in Minhang. According to Caixin, Chen Yujian is the third provincial-level official in Shanghai to be investigated since the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, following Dong Yunhu and Zhu Zhison.△