Editor's note: China's top anti-graft watchdog is in the midst of a fight against corruption that began in November 2012 when the Communist Party of China elected its new leadership. China Daily has selected eight key words and phrases to summarize the anti-graft work of the first half of this year.

Adultery

The explicit wording of this accusation was introduced in early June by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection to replace the ambiguous wording of "moral corruption" for officials who have extramarital affairs.

As of Tuesday, at least 14 officials, including eight senior leaders directly investigated by the CCDI, had been punished for allegations that included adultery.

Secretary gang

The phrase became popular after the CCDI announced it had levied punishments on July 2 on three senior officials: Ji Wenlin, a former deputy governor of Hainan province; Yu Gang, a former deputy head of the country's top security commission; and Tan Hong, a former senior officer in the guard bureau of the Ministry of Public Security. All three formerly served as secretaries for a senior security official.

Energy

At least five bureau-level officials with the National Energy Administration were accused of corruption in the first half of the year. Some local energy officials and senior managers at State-owned natural resource enterprises have also been placed under investigation.

Wei Pengyuan, a deputy director of the coal department of the NEA, was probed in May. Anti-graft officers found almost 100 million yuan ($16 million) in cash at his home.

Black sheep

On May 9, the CCDI launched an investigation of Wei Jian, director of the No 4 discipline inspection office, in the anti-graft watchdog's first announcement of a probe concerning a CCDI official.

At least seven disciplinary officials across the nation have been investigated during the first half of the year.

Media corruption

The anti-graft fight against corruption in the media was underlined by the investigation of Guo Zhenxi, director of China Central Television's finance and economics channel, who was probed on allegations of bribery on June 1.

At least six CCTV employees, including TV anchor Rui Chenggang, have reportedly been investigated by prosecutors.

Military corruption

On June 30, Xu Caihou, former vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, was stripped of his Party membership because of multiple allegations of corruption, including accepting bribes.

On June 25, Ye Wanyong, a former political commissar of the Sichuan provincial military area command, was also stripped of his membership. Media reports accused him of offering bribes to Xu, though those accusations have not been verified by anti-graft authorities.

Weekend ambush

Investigations into eight of 20 provincial- and national-level officials, known as "tigers" because of their status as senior leaders, were announced during weekends. An investigation of Su Rong, former vice-chairman of the country's top political advisory body, was announced on Saturday, June 14.

Unexpected probes

In the past, corrupt officials nearly always "disappeared" for a long period of time before they were placed under investigation. This year, however, more senior officials have been placed under "sudden" investigations.

Wan Qingliang, the Party secretary of Guangzhou, was investigated on June 27. On July 26, he attended a government meeting and told local officials to abide by the clean-governance rules.