A “naked official” (Chinese: 裸官, luǒ guān) refers to a Chinese government official who secretly prepares for an escape by relocating their spouse and children abroad, securing foreign permanent residency (such as a green card), or even adopting foreign citizenship. Meanwhile, they remain in China, exploiting their position to amass wealth and transferring assets overseas. At the first sign of trouble, they flee the country or, upon retirement, reunite with their family abroad to enjoy a life of luxury.
China has a vast network of these so-called naked officials. Lin Zhe, a professor at the Central Party School of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), revealed that between 1995 and 2005, there were 1.18 million naked officials in China — an average of 40,000 per province. By 2005, 4,000 had already fled, taking an estimated US$50 billion with them.
One of the most well-documented cases of a fleeing naked official is Zhou Jinhuo, former director of the Fujian Provincial Administration for Industry and Commerce and a member of the 10th National People’s Congress.
Zhou Jinhuo’s escape
“I have worked diligently for the Party for decades. Even if I have not done great deeds, I have at least put in the effort. Yet, the Party has always doubted me, and I am deeply disheartened. I have already left, so don’t waste your time looking for me.”
In early June 2006, Zhou left this message in a letter to his superiors at the Discipline Inspection Commission, placing it on his desk before vanishing.
Shortly after, news spread that he had fled to avoid an imminent investigation into economic crimes. Some reports even claimed he had been captured in Inner Mongolia.
In the first half of 2006, Fujian’s disciplinary authorities had repeatedly summoned Zhou for questioning. On June 2, after being interrogated by central Party officials in Fuzhou, Zhou made an excuse to return home and immediately went on the run — not to Yunnan or Inner Mongolia, as some speculated, but to the United States.
Zhou and his wife, Li Shuzhen, had one son, who tragically drowned. In 1988, they had a daughter. Over the years, Zhou arranged for his wife and daughter to move to Hong Kong and eventually settle in the U.S., where they obtained green cards. This strategic relocation officially made Zhou a “naked official.”
Why did Zhou Jinhuo flee?
The primary reason for Zhou’s escape was corruption. His case is linked to several significant factors:
1. Ties to high-level corruption
On October 11, 2005, Jing Fusheng, a member of the Fujian Provincial Standing Committee and Minister of Propaganda, was taken in for investigation by the central disciplinary commission.
In September 2007, a Zhejiang court sentenced Jing to life in prison for accepting bribes totaling 7.67 million yuan (US$1.05 million) between 1989 and 2005.
2. Corruption in Ningde’s political scene
During Jing’s tenure as Party Secretary of Ningde, Zhou served as Deputy Commissioner and later as Mayor of Ningde. Under their leadership, corruption in the region was rampant.
3. Illicit land deals
Reports indicate that while in Ningde, Zhou requisitioned 1,200 mu (approximately 198 acres) of land from a local overseas Chinese farm. He then sold the land to his relatives at a heavily discounted rate of 7,000 yuan (US$1,000) per mu. When the land was later reclassified for urban real estate development, his family resold it for 500,000 yuan (US$69,000) per mu — reaping a staggering profit. This single transaction allegedly netted Zhou over 100 million yuan (US$13.7 million) in kickbacks.
4. Luxury gifts and bribes
While serving as general manager of a state-owned real estate company in Fujian, Zhou allegedly accepted high-value gifts, including a Shoushan stone carving worth millions of yuan from a private businessman.
5. Long-term preparation for escape
Having spent decades in government, Zhou accumulated substantial illicit wealth. When he learned that the central disciplinary commission was investigating him, he realized his time was running out. With his family already settled overseas and his wealth securely transferred, he swiftly exited before he could be arrested.
The ongoing game of cat and mouse
Nineteen years have passed since Zhou Jinhuo fled China, yet the CCP has been unable to bring him back. He is just one of many naked officials who continue to evade Chinese authorities.
Between 1995 and 2005, China recorded 1.18 million such officials. Since then, another 20 years have passed, and despite the CCP’s anti-corruption campaigns, these numbers have likely grown.
The question remains: How much money have these officials funneled out of China? If the original 1.18 million officials transferred billions, how much more has been siphoned off in the past two decades? The total sum could be astronomical.
These officials, who send their families and fortunes abroad while pledging allegiance to the CCP, have no genuine faith in the Party. If they genuinely believed in the system, they wouldn’t feel the need to flee.
Translated by Chua BC
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