China’s Anti-Corruption Drive: 110,000 Party Officials Face Disciplinary Action

The Chinese Communist Party has disciplined approximately 110,000 party officials last year as it continues its disciplinary actions. This is a 13% increase from the previous year.

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the Central Discipline Inspection Commission (CDIC), the supreme disciplinary body of the Chinese Communist Party, revealed this on the 28th, explaining that these disciplinary cases include violations of the “Central Eight-point Regulations.” The Eight-point Regulations refer to ▲ improvement of research methods ▲ simplification of meetings ▲ simplification of reporting documents ▲ restraint in security and traffic control ▲ minimization of media publicity ▲ strictness in publishing manuscripts and books ▲ compliance with overseas travel norms ▲ thrift and frugality.

This is the core code of conduct for public officials. President Xi Jinping of China initiated immediately after taking office in December 2012 by convening a meeting of the Central Politburo of the Communist Party and directing an anti-corruption campaign. The CDIC pointed out that more than 41,000 officials failed to perform their duties properly due to non-compliance or mere lip service. In particular, it emphasized cases where officials could not fulfill their responsibilities in the two key areas of President Xi, namely development and environmental protection policies. Also, 40,000 received excessive gifts or money or luxurious hospitality, and another 10,000 gave or received benefits without approval.

Earlier on the 8th, President Xi said, “The fight against corruption has achieved an overwhelming victory, but the situation is still serious and complicated,” adding, “We will intensify the anti-corruption drive in the fields of finance, state-owned enterprises, energy, medicine, and infrastructure projects and eliminate hidden risks.”