Fallen "tigers" - officials at senior levels accused of corruption - have established close relationships with groups of officials in local governments and among business directors and set up many factions, known by such names as "oil clique", "secretary clique" or "Shanxi clique", Xinhua News Agency reported on Sunday.

Before the new year, the political bureau of the CPC Central Committee held a high-ranking official meeting presided over by President Xi Jinping and issued a notice saying there is no room for cliques and factions within the Party.

"Party members should make Party rules their priority, and the Party is adopting 'zero tolerance' toward cliques and factions within it," the notice said. "In addition, those who still have a bad work style and extravagant deeds will be severely punished, and their superiors will also be held accountable."