Opinion | President Xi mounts continuous campaign against corruption

By Augustus K. Yeung

Introduction

As Asia is rising and China is on the verge of overtaking the U.S. as the largest economic power in the world, Xi is conscious of rendering China a role model for the Asian countries in better managing the social media platforms, being non-nuclear-powered proliferation, and rooting out corruption, etc.

For example, Elon Musk the CEO of Tesla Motors and founder of SpaceX, "believes Twitter needs to be more like China's WeChat to be successful", reported the Post. ("Twitter needs to be more like multipurpose WeChat to be successful, Musk says". South China Morning Post. Sunday, June 19, 2022).

Another example: China on Friday unveiled its third aircraft carrier, the CNS Fujian, by far the most modern but modest in that it is not nuclear-powered as opposed to that of the ill-intentioned AUKUS pact, which is bent on being nuclear-powered.

(Note: Australia canceled its deal with France only to submit to the dictate of its American ally, which offered Australia nuclear-powered submarines for the AUKUS pact. By joining the AUKUS, Australia has triggered protests from Malaysia, Indonesia in Southeast Asia, and Pacific Island nations. Even New Zealand was unpleasantly surprised.)

Unlike the US which imposes itself on other countries as the self-styled leader of the world, and expects others to follow suit, China is setting itself as a global governance role model for others to learn by way of imprinting and inspiration.

This article focuses on Xi's do-or-die pet project, his latest anti-corruption campaign, which is not just important to China, but is a crucial lesson for the developing nations as well. For example, China is starting to coach the Solomon Islands' young officials on the art of good governance.

Xi Calls for Continuous Efforts Against Corruption

President Xi Jinping has said there has been an "overwhelming victory" in the country's anti-corruption campaign, and he warned the Communist Party not to let its guard down in the ongoing struggle.

Addressing the 25-strong Politburo of the party last Friday, President Xi said anti-corruption efforts were a key political struggle that the communist party of China could not afford to lose, state news agency Xinhua reported on Saturday.

The president said the fight against corruption had won support for the party and improved solidarity among its members, adding that "self-revolution" would help maintain its lasting rule, a theme which the Chinese president keeps emphasizing.

Beijing is set to host its party congress in the second half of this year, a once-every-five-years event that is expected to see new faces promoted to senior positions, a condition that secures China's political stability through good governance.

Xi Jinping: The Fight Against Corruption…Remains Critical and Complex

Speaking at a Politburo "study" session, President Xi said there should be zero tolerance of corruption, and policies should make sure officials were not involved in corruption because they "do not dare to, are not able to and do not want to".

He also told the session: "The fight against corruption has won an overwhelming victory and has been consolidated comprehensively, but the situation remains critical and complex."

The main speaker at the session was Liu Meipin, the director of the office that oversees the country's top disciplinary bodies, the National Supervisory Commission and the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI).

"Corruption shows the long-term accumulation and fermentation of adverse elements within the party. Fighting corruption is combating pathogens that weaken and harm the further advances and purity of the party," Xi said. The battle is complicated and arduous, and there is no room for any compromise.

"We must maintain the courage to face the problem and stay determined to remove the tumor, its sources and its flow," he added.

He said anti-corruption laws and regulations within the party, inside the country and concerning foreign nations should be improved.

Beijing Announced a Sweeping Disciplinary Crackdown on Financial Sector…

Beijing announced a sweeping disciplinary crackdown on the nation's financial sector in October last year and has since arrested dozens of officials at financial institutions and regulatory agencies.

The CCDI said last Wednesday that Zhang Wufeng, who was until recently the director and party chief of the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, was under investigation for suspected "serious violations of discipline and the law" – a common euphemism for corruption.

While the short statement did not elaborate on the accusations, Zhang, 61, is the latest and by far the highest-ranking bureaucrat ensnared in a nationwide anti-corruption campaign, the Post reported. ("War on corruption won 'but party cannot let guard down'. SCMP. Monday, June 20, 2020.)

Conclusion

President Xi Jinping has just made it known that China is imposing stricter controls--on the senior officials' families, according to Xinhua.

Under Xi, the Chinese Communist Party has introduced new restrictions on the business activities of senior officials' families as part of the latest anti-corruption drive.

The guidelines from the general office of the party's Central Committee vary according to sector and the rank of the officials involved.

"The more the senior the officials are, the stricter the rules are, and those for comprehensive departments [which oversee multiple areas of industry or government] are stricter than those for other departments," the report said.

The full text has not been published, but the report said that in some cases the children and spouses of officials would be banned from activities such as starting their own business or investing in private equity.

Some of the other activities the family members of senior officials are banned from doing will include working as senior executives for companies and providing legal services.

It is apparent that the rules are designed to ensure senior cadres do not use their positions to gain improper benefits – a key element of President Xi Jinping's forceful anti-corruption drive.

In global governance, Xi's "zero tolerance" against corruption is a role model for the world's developing countries as well.

 

The author is a freelance writer; formerly Adjunct Lecturer, taught MBA Philosophy of Management, and International Strategy, and online columnist of 3-D Corner (HKU SPACE), University of Hong Kong.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.

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