Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 27 JULY 2026

China Compliance Update: Anti-Corruption — Summer 2026

Arnold & Porter
Arnold & Porter
Contributor
Arnold & Porter

Arnold & Porter

With over 1,000 lawyers across 16 offices worldwide, Arnold & Porter is renowned for its...

View firm profile
Explore more from Arnold & Porter

Chinese authorities issued the first major update to criminal bribery laws in a decade, lowered thresholds for private-sector corruption crimes, and maintained aggressive enforcement against both bribe givers and receivers. Three senior officials faced prosecution in the first half of 2026, with investigations reaching back decades and emphasizing "family-style corruption" involving relatives who exploited officials' influence for personal gain.

ChinaCriminal Law
John Tan
John Tan
Siyi Gu
Siyi Gu
Author LinkedIn connections

Anti-corruption remained a top priority for Chinese authorities in the first half of 2026. Regulators issued the first major update to the official judicial interpretation of China’s criminal bribery framework in a decade, took further steps to implement the revised Anti-Unfair Competition Law (AUCL), and kept up a robust pace of anti-corruption enforcement.

Legislative Updates

New SPC/SPP Judicial Interpretation on Corruption and Bribery

On April 10, 2026, the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP) jointly issued the Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in Handling Criminal Cases of Corruption and Bribery (II) (Interpretation (II), 关于办理贪污贿赂刑事案件适用法律若干问题的解释（二）).1 It took effect on May 1, 2026, and is the first major update to the prior interpretation of the criminal law of bribery released by the SPC and SPP in a decade. It follows other recent changes to China’s anti-corruption rules, including amendments to the PRC

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

当投诉被称为“软暴力”——从商美娜案看“恶意索赔”“舆情敲诈”的刑法边界

China's 2026 anti-organized crime campaign targets "malicious claims" and "public opinion extortion" as key enforcement priorities. This article examines how criminal law should distinguish between legitimate consumer complaints and extortion, using the Shang Meina case—where a legal consultant spent 872 days in detention before being released without prosecution—to illustrate the evidentiary standards required when investment complaints, administrative reports
ChinaCriminal Law
Jincheng Tongda & Neal
Jincheng Tongda & Neal
Article

Pseudonymised, Not Anonymous: What The Italian Garante’s €7 Million IQVIA Fine Means For Health Data

The Italian data protection authority fined IQVIA Solutions Italy €7 million for treating patient records as anonymous when they were actually pseudonymised personal data subject to GDPR. This decision demonstrates regulators' strict interpretation of what constitutes personal data, even as the EU considers narrowing this definition through the Digital Omnibus reforms.
GlobalPrivacy
Arnold & Porter
Arnold & Porter
Article

Generative AI Is Reshaping The Defense Of Complex Litigation

Generative AI is transforming litigation defense by enabling in-house legal teams to manage costs and complexity more effectively across the entire case lifecycle. From early research and drafting through expert witness strategy and trial preparation, AI tools are helping defense teams work faster and more consistently. How are these technologies reshaping the way sophisticated counsel approaches multidistrict litigation, mass torts, and large-scale document management?
United StatesMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Arnold & Porter
Arnold & Porter
Article

The FCC’s Next Move On Supply Chain Security: What Manufacturers Need To Know

The Federal Communications Commission has proposed sweeping changes to its equipment authorization program that would reorganize security restrictions around where devices are manufactured rather than who makes them. These new measures could fundamentally reshape how communications equipment—from smartphones to data center hardware—enters the U.S. market, with significant implications for manufacturers relying on foreign production.
United StatesGovernment, Public Sector
Arnold & Porter
Arnold & Porter
Article

District Court Enjoins EPA From Reclassifying California’s Clean Air Act Waivers

A federal district court has preliminarily enjoined the EPA from reclassifying California's Clean Air Act preemption waiver orders as "rules" subject to the Congressional Review Act. The court found that EPA's reclassification likely violated the Administrative Procedure Act and exceeded the agency's authority, though the order does not prevent Congress from proceeding with pending disapproval resolutions.
United StatesEnvironment
Arnold & Porter
Arnold & Porter
Article

Before The FCA: CMS And HHS Leaders Discuss Administrative Tools Leading Healthcare Fraud Enforcement

Federal healthcare fraud enforcement leaders reveal a strategic shift at CMS and HHS-OIG, where administrative sanctions—including enrollment moratoria, revocations, and exclusions—now serve as the first line of defense against fraud, often preceding False Claims Act litigation. The panel discussion at AHLA's Fraud and Compliance Forum outlined how agencies are leveraging data analytics, financial crimes intelligence, and cross-program coordination to identify and shut down fraudulent providers
United StatesFood, Drugs, Healthcare, Life Sciences
Arnold & Porter
Arnold & Porter
Article

Sterling v. City Of Jackson And The Limits Of Substantive Due Process In Environmental Harm Cases

The Fifth Circuit's en banc decision in Sterling v. City of Jackson tests whether residents exposed to lead-contaminated municipal drinking water can sue under Section 1983 for substantive due process violations. In a 10-5 ruling, the court held that environmental harms caused by government mismanagement belong to tort law and the political process, not constitutional claims, creating a significant circuit split with implications for how environmental compliance failures by public officials are litigated.
United StatesLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Arnold & Porter
Arnold & Porter
Article

S.D.N.Y. Upholds New York’s Social Media Content Moderation Disclosure Law

A federal court in New York upheld a state law requiring social media platforms to disclose their content moderation policies, applying a deferential First Amendment standard. This decision directly conflicts with a Ninth Circuit ruling on California's similar statute, potentially setting the stage for Supreme Court review on whether such disclosure requirements constitute protected commercial speech or impermissible compelled expression.
United StatesMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Arnold & Porter
Arnold & Porter
Article

All Eyes On Personalized Pricing: What Stakeholders Need To Know

The Federal Trade Commission has proposed a new enforcement policy targeting personalized pricing practices, signaling heightened scrutiny of businesses that use consumer data to set individualized prices. As states simultaneously advance their own surveillance pricing legislation—ranging from disclosure mandates to outright bans—companies face an increasingly complex regulatory landscape that demands...
United StatesConsumer Protection
Arnold & Porter
Arnold & Porter
Article

A Tale Of Two Sanctions Programs: U.S. Delivers Syria Relief While Launching Latest Economic Campaign Against Iran

The U.S. government simultaneously extended sanctions relief to Syria while launching an aggressive economic campaign against Iran, marking a stark divergence in approach to two long-standing sanctions programs. Treasury's actions include removing Syria's State Sponsor of Terrorism designation and delisting HTS, while initiating "Operation Economic Outcast" targeting five sectors of Iran's economy with expanded secondary sanctions. These coordinated moves demonstrate the administration's willingness to purs
GlobalInternational Law
Arnold & Porter
Arnold & Porter