China Renews Crackdown on Illegal Villas and Luxury Resorts
China’s leadership has renewed its focus on illegal luxury villas and private resorts, framing them as symbols of governance failures, corruption, and environmental damage.
Excerpts from a recent speech by President Xi Jinping, published in the Communist Party’s theoretical journal Qiushi, highlight the issue as a priority for urban governance and sustainable development.
Governance and Environmental Concerns
Xi noted that while China has made major advances in urban infrastructure and public services, some officials and wealthy individuals have exploited loopholes in planning regulations to build large-scale luxury properties in protected or restricted areas.
These developments, he said, occupy excessive land, undermine planning discipline, and harm ecological systems.
Analysts say the renewed emphasis aligns with Beijing’s broader anti-corruption campaign and its push to reinforce central control over land use and urban development.
