The United Nations has designated December 9 the International Anti-corruption Day... and China's recent crackdown on corruption has been drawing attention, both at home and abroad. A number of government and party officials have been placed under investigation for misconduct within the past month, as the new leadership of China's Communist Party (CPC) looks to clear-out corruption from public office.

Less than a month after the leadership transition of the CPC, nine government and party officials have been put under investigation by disciplinary authorities. Many say the recent cases underscore how seriously China's new leadership is taking the problem.

Xi Jinping, General Secretary of CPC Central Committee, said, "In the new environment, our Party faces many challenges and there are many pressing problems within the Party that need to be resolved. The problems among our Party members and cadres, of corruption, taking bribes, being out of touch with the people, undue emphasis on formalities and bureaucracy, must be addressed with great effort."

Soon after being elected the Party's general secretary, Xi warned that the problem could even be a danger to the party and to the state, if allowed to continue unchecked.

The message is clear. The challenge is enforcement.

Ma Huaide, vice president of China University of Political Science & Law, said, "The message from the top is that in further combating corruption, the CPC will put more emphasis on system building to stop corruption at source; Secondly, loopholes in existing laws and regulations will be closed; And thirdly, a long-term strategy will be established, rather than relying on sporadic action."

The world's second largest economy with the world's biggest population, is waging an all-out war against wrongdoing in public office.

China's growing number of micro-bloggers are becoming a force to be reckoned with, in exposing abuses of power.

But the war on corruption is far from over. China's anti-corruption campaign is vital for building a clean government and boosting public confidence. Experts say punishment alone won't get to the root of the problem. What's really needed are more foundamental reforms, regulations and grassroots supervision.

(CNTV.cn December 9, 2012)