Drive to deter graft deepens nationwide

Action being taken against officials at both high and grassroots levels

China has seen a sharp year-on-year rise in the number of officials investigated and punished for corruption as the country's anti-graft campaign intensifies, according to the country's top anti-corruption watchdogs.

A strong deterrent effect against corruption is taking shape under sustained pressure, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission said in a statement over the weekend.

Disciplinary inspection and supervisory authorities across China received 1.91 million petition and complaint reports in the first half of this year and handled 1.21 million leads, both seeing significant increases from last year, according to data released on Saturday.