Mistresses of Chinese Officials could face charges of corruption as the Communist Party tries to lower corruption.

From the AP (via IHT):

China could put the mistresses of corrupt officials on trial in its fight to battle corruption under a proposed criminal law amendment, a state newspaper said Tuesday.

Spouses, children and those who have “intimate relations” with corrupt officials could be jailed for more than seven years if they are found to have taken advantage of an official’s position to get bribes or make money illegally, the China Daily said.

Communist Party leaders have repeatedly warned that corruption threatens the country’s social and political stability, and have announced numerous crackdowns on crooked officials in recent years.

The article concludes by saying that it has become socially acceptable for men to have mistresses. 

By Chinese law, government officials found to have mistresses, also known as “second wives,” are automatically dismissed from their posts. Despite the laws, it has become increasingly socially acceptable for men to take mistresses.