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Amid the cheerful and patriotic atmosphere on the day before China's National Day, two "big tigers"  ̶ senior officials taken down on corruption and other criminal charges  ̶  faced disciplinary actions and have been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC).

With the approval of the CPC Central Committee, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) and the National Supervisory Commission (NSC) have placed Sun Lijun, former vice minister of the Public Security, and Yin Jiaxu, former chairman of China North Industries Group, on trial for Party disciplinary and other legal violations.

CCDI and NSC said that Sun created and spread political rumors, cultivated individual forces within the Party, formed interest groups to control key departments, and seriously undermined the unity and political security of the Party. Sun also concealed a large volume of sensitive materials and used public security investigations as a means to resist Party review.

Sun, according to the CCDI and NSC, lived in a state of depravity, accepted large amounts of valuable gifts for long periods of time, indulged in banquets and extravagant parties; he is also accused of engaging in "pay-for-play" schemes and paying for sex. 

Yin was described as "two-faced man who is alienated from the Party" and has been accused of illegally obtaining memberships to exclusive golf clubs. 

Yin illegally accepted a large amount of money and real estate, abused power and arranged profitable business deals for a small group of relatives and friends for personal gain, knowingly acted directly against the national interest, the CCDI and NSC said.

The CCDI and NSC claim Sun and Yin has seriously violated the CPC's political discipline, organizational discipline and moral discipline, which constitute serious duty violation, both are suspected of taking bribes.

Following the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, hundreds of Party and government officials above the vice-ministerial level, People's Liberation Army generals and heads of state-owned enterprises have been investigated and punished in accordance with the law, reflecting China's strong determination to clamp down on corruption.

The two "tigers" both held key positions, which means they have resulted in more negative influence and widespread corruption, including impacts on downstream military enterprises as well as public security law enforcement and information departments, Zhuang Deshui, deputy director of the Research Center for Government Integrity-Building at Peking University, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Through the detailed description of the "big tigers," the public gains better understanding of and insight into the nature of the graft being combated by the central government and Party, while also seeing that corrupt officials are dealt with in a swift and severe manner, Zhang said. 

The CCDI and NSC said responsible departments have transferred the two corrupted officials to government procuratorial bodies for investigation and prosecution in accordance with the law, while also confiscating all of their illegally obtained wealth and assets. 

China has set a high bar for transparency and pace of public-interest anti-corruption information, and has required that the result of cases to be release as soon as possible, Zhang said.