China's Xi promises new wave of crackdown on corruption amid record purges

Chinese President Xi Jinping has renewed his call to root out corruption, describing it as the most serious threat to the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

News week contacted the Chinese Foreign Ministry by email for comment.

Why it matters

Xi launched a sweeping anti-corruption campaign after taking over the leadership of the CCP in 2012. Since then, investigations have been launched against more than 4 million members of the 99 million-strong party, ranging from low-level officials rank to “send” high-ranking officials. ranking of the “tigers”.

Many observers have suggested that Xi, now in his historic third term, has used the anti-corruption crackdown to eliminate rivals and further consolidate himself at the center of China's political hierarchy.

What you need to know

China's top disciplinary agency began a three-day plenary session in Beijing on Monday to set priorities for this year's anti-corruption campaign.

Addressing attendees Monday, Xi called corruption “the biggest threat our party faces.” While highlighting successes and what he called a “clearer understanding and firmer action on the major issue of self-revolution,” he pledged to continue “purifying cadres and forces.” .

In 2024, the Central Committee, the CCP's top decision-making body, launched investigations into 58 high-ranking “tigers,” according to Xinhua. In addition, 433,000 lower-ranking “flies” were punished, including 14,000 referred for prosecution since April alone, the report said.

Prominent figures ensnared in the anti-corruption campaign include former Foreign Minister Qin Gang, as well as Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe, the two defense ministers directly preceding the current occupant of that office, Dong Jun .

The fact that many of those purged held leadership positions within the People's Liberation Army (PLA), including its Rocket Force – responsible for China's nuclear arsenal – has raised questions about control of Xi on the military and highlighted his distrust of the organization.

What people say

Chinese President Xi Jinping, speaking in Beijing on Monday, promised to: “Intensify our efforts against corruption and eradicate the terrain and conditions conducive to the development of corruption.”

Andrew Wedeman, professor of political science at Georgia State University, told Reuters:
“I don't see how Xi could afford to back down at this point. A dozen years after he set out to clean out the top brass, Xi still sees widespread corruption at the top of the party-state and the PLA.

“So it would appear that the “pool” that Xi relies on to replace corrupt officials is also full of corrupt officials. If Xi promotes corrupt officials, it suggests that the party's internal control apparatus is not functioning effectively or, more seriously, that it itself is broken. corrupt. »

What's next?

Xi's anti-corruption campaign shows no signs of slowing, with a particular focus on the military.

In November, Miao Hua, a member of the five-person Xi-led Central Military Commission, became the latest high-ranking official to be targeted. Miao was suspended pending an investigation into “serious violation of discipline,” a term commonly used by the CCP to refer to corruption.

CNN recently reported on the existence of 218 newly built or expanded facilities under the “liuzhi,” or “custody detention,” system introduced in 2018. These centers have drawn criticism for their potential for abuse, because anyone in a position of “public power”, whether or not they are members of the CCP, can be detained for up to six months without access to a lawyer or their family.