China's graft-busters reveal corruption in state-owned firms

China's anti-corruption watchdog Thursday described collusion between business figures and officials and corruption in state-owned enterprises (SOEs).

The Communist Party of China's (CPC) 18th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) launched the third round of inspection for 2014 in November, targeting major SOEs, including China State Shipbuilding Corporation, China Unicom, China Huadian Corporation, Dongfeng Motor Corporation, Shenhua Group and Sinopec.

The CCDI said some officials with China Unicom "collude with contractors or suppliers, using their power to seek money or sex" in a statement released on its official website.

According to the latest inspection results, certain leaders of energy company Shenhua Group manipulate their power in the coal trade to gain "black gold".

Other issues including buying and selling of official positions, wining and dining at public expense, and helping relatives open business to obtain illegal profits, were discovered in China Huadian Corporation, Dongfeng Motor Corporation and other enterprises.

Apart from SOEs, other state organizations were targeted in the third round: the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, China Association for Science and Technology, All-China Federation of Industry & Commerce and China Radio International.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the CCDI has carried out five rounds of inspections.