Director of Customs Yu Jianhua Reportedly Dies After Interrogation, Allegedly Shoots Himself in Office

Photo Caption: The first session of the 14th National People's Congress will open on March 5, 2023, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

People News - On the evening of December 11, the official website of the Chinese General Administration of Customs abruptly published an obituary, stating that Yu Jianhua, the Party Secretary and Director of the General Administration of Customs, passed away on December 10 due to a sudden illness despite emergency treatment. He was 63 years old.

However, prior to the official announcement, independent commentator Cai Shenkun revealed on the X platform at around 2:00 p.m. on December 11 that Yu Jianhua, a member of the CCP’s 20th Central Committee, committed suicide the night before (December 10) in his office. Cai noted that Yu had just been interviewed by officials from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) on December 9, and the next day, he took his own life. Cai interpreted Yu's decision as a resolute refusal to endure mental torment, opting instead for a swift and final escape through death.

Reports claim that Yu shot himself. Chinese journalist Luo Changping also wrote on the X platform that Yu Jianhua "shot himself" in his office at 10:37 p.m. Allegedly, one of the triggers was corruption related to the "smart customs" project, which costs tens of billions of yuan annually.

Domestically, platforms like NetEase, Caixin, and the pro-Beijing Phoenix News in Hong Kong reported Yu’s "death," but the articles curiously resulted in "404 errors" when accessed, showing only search prompts.

Public records show that Yu Jianhua had a long career in China’s foreign affairs and trade sectors, including roles in the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade (MOFERT), the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), and diplomatic postings. He served as Deputy Director and later Director of the WTO Affairs Department, Permanent Representative to the WTO, and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. Starting in February 2017, he held positions such as Vice Minister of Commerce, Deputy Party Secretary, and Chief International Trade Negotiator (ministerial level). He was a member of the CCP’s 20th Central Committee and a delegate to the 20th Party Congress.

On December 10, state media reported that Yu Jianhua met with Jilin Party Secretary Huang Qiang and Governor Hu Yuting in Beijing to discuss work plans. Yu had also attended events on December 2 and 3. A Jilin state media article titled "Stronger Support for Changchun Customs Work" was published on December 10 but was later urgently removed, along with related articles on other news websites. However, the print edition of Jilin Daily had already published the report, placing it on the front page.

Earlier this year, the CCP's Fifth Central Inspection Group conducted a three-month inspection of the General Administration of Customs starting in April. During a mobilization meeting for the inspection, Yu Jianhua delivered a speech emphasizing the need to "proactively accept supervision and inspection" and to report issues truthfully. Shortly afterward, one of his deputies was investigated and removed.

On September 24, the CCDI announced that Deputy Director of Customs Sun Yuning was under investigation for "serious violations of discipline and law." Sun was dismissed on October 22.

Cai Shenkun remarked that Yu Jianhua was a senior official handpicked by Xi Jinping’s personnel team during the 20th Party Congress. He had been in the customs system for just over two years. If investigations into Yu's background or alleged corruption occurred, it likely involved his earlier tenure at the Ministry of Commerce, though his role there was primarily advisory, with limited direct power.

Since 2020, six directors of customs branches directly under the General Administration of Customs have been investigated: Li Xiaomin (Shantou Customs); Li Lanxue (Haikou Customs); Yu Fangcheng (Fuzhou Customs); He Shuishan (Qingdao Customs); Zhou Bin (Gongbei Customs); Bai Huabing (Xiamen Customs). Among them, Qingdao Customs Director He Shuishan was also reported to have committed suicide.

Additionally, several other officials have been investigated, including: Xu Fengyi (former second-level inspector at Shijiazhuang Customs); Mo Li (former second-level inspector at Nanning Customs); Xun Yazhong (former second-level inspector in the Finance Department of the General Administration of Customs).