In 2012, the newly-elected General Secretary Xi Jinping could see a worsening problem of corruption. Five years later, Xi Jinping pointed out in the report of the 19th CPC National Congress in 2017 that “The anticorruption campaign has built into a crushing tide, is being consolidated, and continues to develop” . A new era beckons for the campaign. 

 

 

 

Xi Jinping said in his report that:” No place has been out of bounds, no ground left unturned, and no tolerance shown in the fight against corruption. We have taken firm action to ‘take our tigers’, ‘swap flies’, and ‘hunt down foxes.” “The goal of creating a deterrent against corruption has been initially attained; the cage of institutions that prevents corruption has been strengthened; and moral defenses against corruption are in the making.” The anti-corruption campaign has been one of the hottest issues and a key focus in these five years. 

 

 

 

An Overwhelming Momentum 

 

 

 

The momentum of the campaign manifests itself in three ways: 

 

 

 

First, the goal of creating a deterrent against corruption has been initially attained. 

 

 

 

This result has been achieved by a strict and unremitting anti-corruption campaign. According to data from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), more than 300 officials at or above ministerial and provincial level, and more than 170,000 officials at county level was investigated from 2012 to May 2021. 

 

 

 

During the period, the CCDI initiated 3.805 million investigation cases, punished 4.089 million officials and criticized and educated 8.834 million CPC members violating regulations. Since the 19th CPC National Congress, CCDI addressed 280,000 cases on poverty alleviation, and 280,000 cases relating to people’s well-being. Under such strict execution of discipline and such a rigorous anti-corruption campaign, the increase in corruption has been effectively curbed. The number of corruption cases is now falling, and the initial goal of creating an effective deterrent to corruption has been attained. 

 

 

 

Second, the cage of institutions that prevents corruption has been strengthened. 

 

 

 

Amendment of related laws and regulations. Since the opening of the 18th National Congress, more than 80 Party rules has been amended, mainly focused on the two guiding principles concerning integrity and selfdiscipline and inner party political life, and four regulations regarding on-site inspection visits, disciplinary actions, the accountability system, and supervision. 

 

 

 

Sending more discipline inspection teams to the Party organizations and bodies. Under the support of the Central Committee of the CPC, the CCDI has set up over 40 discipline inspection teams by integrating and activating its resources and adjusting its structures. Among all the teams, 20 have been accredited to the Party organs as stationed individual teams, while others take charge of the supervision of 139 governments’ departments. 

 

 

 

Making the most of external supervision. During these five years, the CCDI has carried out on-site inspections covering over 200 Party organizations, re-inspected 16 provinces and municipalities, and carried out mobile on-site inspections of several central government departments. The CCDI has fulfilled its promise to implement full-coverage discipline inspection. 

 

 

 

Third, moral defenses against corruption are in the making. 

 

 

 

After the Sixth Plenary Session, the 18th CPC Central Committee announced in early November 2016 the Pilot Program for Supervisory System Reform in Beijing Municipality, and Provinces of Shanxi and Zhejiang published by the General Office of the Communist Party of China – a vital and comprehensive political system reform. It was a comprehensive reform because it involved amendments to the Party Constitution, the law and the national Constitution; implemented in these three provinces and municipalities, the pilot reform also showed the determination and strength of the Central Committee of the CPC in carrying out political reform. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regarding the report of the 19th CPC National Congress, I think the next step of anti-corruption campaign will emphasize the following three points: 

 

 

 

Focus on the duration. Focus on those who have been corrupt for a long time without restraint, so as to highlight the targeted and flexible features of the policy and its implementation; 

 

 

 

Focus on the nature of the cases. Put emphasis on the cases that most evidence points to and the cases that are of most concern to the people; 

 

 

 

Focus on the upper echelons. Put emphasis on those who are still occupying important positions and in a position to be promoted in the Party, so as to eradicate hidden perils. 

 

 

 

The anti-corruption campaign has attained significant results because of three factors: 

 

 

 

First, it is systematic – ensuring Comprehensive and Strict Party Governance was included in the Four-Pronged Strategy; 

 

 

 

Second, it is creative – applying question-oriented strategy and using the campaign as a sharp sword to change the situation so as to set up integrated and clean government; 

 

 

 

Third, it is effective – The Central Committee of the CPC shoulders the main responsibility of anti-corruption campaign while the CCDI takes charge of supervision. At the same time, on-site inspection has covered the whole range while the three provinces and municipalities have started pilot political reform. 

 

 

 

Following the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress should start from the perspective of the Four-pronged Strategy, and actions should be taken under the guidance of Comprehensive and Strict Party Governance. Promoting anti-corruption legislation and the creation of an offence reporting platform that covers the supervision of the whole CCDI system will not only elevate the legal status of the fight against -corruption, but will also prevent the phenomenon of “darkness under light” in which ineffective supervision becomes the shelter for corruption. Deterring corruption calls for a robust law and regulation system and the reform of the power structure; enhancing the moral defenses against corruption requires better self-discipline through education, but external management by laws and education is even more important. 

 

 

 

The report of the 19th CPC National Congress told us that the anti-corruption campaign has built overwhelming momentum, but this does not mean a sweeping victory. As the Chinese saying goes “the last leg of a journey is marked by the half way point.” The anti-corruption campaign will continue.

 

 

 

(Source: Central Commission for Discipline Inspection)