Yang Sitao (Chinese: 杨思涛; born November 1964) is a former Chinese politician who spent most of his career in Hainan province. He entered the workforce in July 1985, and joined the Chinese Communist Party in June 1989. He was investigated by the Chinese Communist Party's anti-graft agency in April 2019.[1] Previously he served as chairman of the board and Party secretary of Haiken Group, a large state-owned agricultural enterprise. Prior to that, he was Party secretary of Chengmai County between May 2008 and May 2017.[2]
Early life and education
Yang was born in Dabu County, Guangdong in November 1964. After the resumption of college entrance examination, he was accepted to Guangdong Petrochemical College. He was a Ph.D. candidate at Fudan University from February 2005 and January 2008.
Career
After graduating in July 1985, he was assigned to the Western South China Sea Company, a branch of the CNOOC Limited. He spent 15 years working at the Western South China Sea Company before moving to Chengmai County, where he was appointed deputy magistrate there. In March 2003 he became the deputy Communist Party secretary of Chengmai County, rising to Communist Party secretary in May 2008. He concurrently served as magistrate of Chengmai County between December 2004 and May 2008. In June 2017 he became chairman of the board and Party secretary of Hainan State Farms Investment Holding Group Co, Ltd. (Haiken Group), a large state-owned agricultural enterprise in Hainan province.[3][4][5][6]
Investigation
In April 2019, Yang has been placed under investigation for serious violations of laws and regulations by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), the party's internal disciplinary body, and the National Supervisory Commission, the highest anti-corruption agency of China. On November 18, 2019, the First Intermediate People's Court of Hainan opened a court session to hear his case, the indictment accused him of taking bribes of over 338 million yuan (about 48.1235 million U.S. dollars).[7]
On July 23, 2020, he was expelled from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and dismissed from public office.[8]
PB Former member of the Politburo; PLA Also a military official; CDI Member of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection or affiliates 1For details on the civil service ranks of officials, please see Civil Service of the People's Republic of China; 2Army generals listed have attained at least the rank of Major General, which usually enjoys the same administrative privileges as a civilian official of sub-provincial rank.