China's party members warned not to set up e-commerce sites

The state-run China Discipline Inspection Newspaper has warned Communist Party members not to make earnings by setting up independent online stores: e-commerce is viewed by the party as a potential source of graft. If members are found to have opened a personal store on e-commerce sites such as Taobao or social messaging sites like WeChat, they could be reprimanded or even expelled, depending on the severity of the case. People in China are increasingly using such sites run by individuals for small purchases like importing food and clothing, as they are perceived to offer higher-quality goods. 

China’s official newspaper for the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection gives a warning about independent sellers using e-commerce sites for profit-taking activities