Guo Boxiong Family: From Military Prominence to the Abyss of Corruption

The Guo Boxiong family has been a focal point of public attention due to its significant influence in China's political and military systems. Guo Boxiong (1942–), a native of Liquan, Shaanxi, was a high-ranking leader in the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) and served as Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission. In 2016, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for bribery. His wife, He Xiulian, was reportedly instrumental in facilitating promotions within the military, acting as the family’s key contact. Guo’s son, Guo Zhenggang (1970–), a former deputy political commissar of the Zhejiang Military District, was investigated in 2015 for corruption, while his wife, Wu Fangfang, was implicated in scandals involving failed real estate projects and illegal fundraising. Guo’s younger brother, Guo Boquan (1961–), a former head of the Shaanxi Civil Affairs Department, was dismissed for mismanagement of disaster relief funds. Another family member, He Jiajie, He Xiulian’s relative, served as Deputy Political Commissar of the Shaanxi Military District before transferring to the Xinjiang Military District. Once powerful in China’s military and political spheres, the family’s downfall highlights the broader anti-corruption efforts within the PLA and government.