Underground Market Sells Leaks on Xi Jinping Purges

An underground market has emerged in China where users pay for purported leaks identifying government officials targeted by Xi Jinping and his ongoing anti-corruption purges. According to a report from Banyuetan, a magazine published by the official Xinhua News Agency, these groups operate through encrypted or shifting chat rooms and charge entry fees as high as 399 yuan ($59) for tips.

While some of the information is fabricated to attract traffic, other leaks appear to originate from within the government. In Guizhou province, a low-ranking cadre was found to have leaked personnel data. The market is fueled by high anxiety among investors and mid- to high-level officials attempting to manage their political exposure before the Communist Party's leadership congress in 2027.

Chinese authorities, including police in Guizhou, have attempted to shut down these sites. However, the Cyberspace Administration of China and other enforcement agencies face difficulties in suppressing the leaks due to the coded nature of the posts.