This　paper　examines　the　impact　of　political　connections　on　corporate　mergers　and　acquisitions　(M&As)　behavior　using　data　from　companies　listed　in　Chinese　equity　markets　during　the　period　1998　to　2010.　Our　empirical　results　indicate　that　firms　with　political　connections　have　a　greater　probability　of　engaging　in　M&As　and　tend　to　engage　in　larger-scale　M&As.　The　impact　of　political　connections　on　corporate　M&As　is　mainly　realized　via　government　intervention　in　state-owned　enterprises　(SOEs).　The　paper　also　investigates　the　impact　of　political　connections　on　M&A　performance,　demonstrating　a　significantly　negative　impact　when　SOEs　are　involved　but　a　significantly　positive　impact　when　non-SOEs　are　involved.　The　findings　of　this　paper　suggest　that　the　political　connections　of　Chinese　listed　firms　have　a　strong　influence　on　M&A　activities　and　performance.