China's Spy Chief Stripped of Assets in Graft Purge

A former vice-minister of China's Ministry of State Security has been publicly punished. Gao Yichen was stripped of his assets and expelled from the Communist Party. The party's internal enforcers announced the decision. They stated Gao had "lost his ideals" and "polluted the political environment." The Ministry of State Security is China's main spy agency. The move is part of a long-running anti-corruption campaign. President Xi Jinping has led this campaign across all levels of government and the military. Gao's punishment highlights the campaign's reach into China's most secretive institutions. The announcement did not provide details of Gao's specific crimes. It also did not say if he will face criminal charges.