Ineffective Case Handling Leads to the Fall of Beijing Deputy Mayor Gao Peng

On March 10, a vehicle charged toward the main gate of Zhongnanhai (Xinhua Gate) late at night, but was stopped by a barrier. The driver was pulled out of the car, shouting "The Communist Party are murderers!" Armed police, circled in red, used an anti-riot fork to stun the driver, who was then arrested (video screenshot).

[People News] On October 22, Beijing's Deputy Mayor Gao Peng was placed under investigation, removed from his party and public office, and expelled from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Official reports confirmed that he was ousted due to "political issues." Analysts suggest that Gao’s downfall may be linked to his ineffective handling of a case in March, during the "Two Sessions," when a car attempted to ram into Xinhua Gate. As the deputy mayor in charge of transportation in Beijing, Gao's inadequate response to the incident likely displeased the CCP leadership.

The official report stated that Gao Peng was expelled from the CCP, dismissed from public office, and will be prosecuted. The report accused Gao of "shrinking from major risk tests, evading responsibility, and causing negative political impacts." Additionally, he was accused of accepting banquets, arranging "nanny-style" services for his family from individuals under his management, and improperly benefiting others during the selection and appointment of officials through fraudulently obtained degrees and qualifications. Gao was also accused of accepting bribes, illegally trading stocks, borrowing large sums from those he managed, engaging in sexual bribery, pursuing low tastes, and engaging in power-for-money deals that resulted in significant financial gains from job promotions, business operations, and project contracts. His negligence was said to have caused significant losses.

Gao Peng had only been appointed Beijing's deputy mayor in January 2023. He was responsible for the Beijing Municipal Commission of Urban Management, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport, the Tiananmen Area Management Committee, and the Beijing Key Station Areas Management Committee.

Political commentator Heng He, speaking on the New Tang Dynasty's "Elite Forum," suggested that Gao Peng's downfall might be linked to security issues in the Tiananmen area. During the Two Sessions in March, a car crashed into Xinhua Gate, and Gao, who was in charge of this area, likely bore some responsibility, making it a political issue.

In the early morning of March 10 during the Two Sessions, a man drove a black sedan at high speed into Xinhua Gate, the main entrance to Zhongnanhai in Beijing. The site is located just about a kilometer from the office of CCP leader Xi Jinping. When the man was arrested, he shouted, "The Communist Party are murderers!"

The video of the car ramming into Zhongnanhai circulated widely on the internet and sparked heated discussions on social media. Some described it as a "heroic suicide attack on Zhongnanhai!" and called the man the "hero Peng Lifa."

Taiwanese media reported that the incident shocked CCP leader Xi Jinping, though no further details were revealed.

A little over a month later, on April 21, 2024, Gao Peng was placed under investigation, becoming the first deputy ministerial-level official in Beijing to fall since the 20th Party Congress.

The report on Gao's dismissal mentioned that he "shrunk from major risk tests and evaded responsibility, causing negative political impacts." Speculation suggests that, as the deputy mayor responsible for the Tiananmen Area Management Committee, Gao's poor handling of the case allowed details of the Xinhua Gate incident to spread rapidly both domestically and internationally, angering the CCP leadership and leading to his downfall.