Why is Xi Jinping putting the political heat back on illegal villas and resorts?

Chinese President Xi Jinping has refocused national anti-corruption efforts on illegal villas and “private resorts”, luxury developments that have come to symbolise excess and graft over the past two decades.

According to newly released excerpts of a speech, Xi singled out the developments for special mention at the central urban work conference in July, highlighting them as examples of the need to improve governance, combat corruption and promote sustainable urban development.

“[Officials must] conserve and efficiently utilise resources, strengthen regulation and absolutely prohibit illegal and irregular construction of luxury villas and private resorts,” he said, according to the excerpts published on Thursday in Qiushi, the Communist Party’s leading theoretical journal.

Xi said the country had made remarkable urban progress over the years, including extensive infrastructure upgrades, expanded city clusters and improved public services.

However, some officials and wealthy individuals have exploited loopholes to build luxury villas and private estates, often occupying large areas of land, damaging the environment and flouting urban planning standards.