PUNISHING and preventing corruption is a "serious political battle" for both the Communist Party of China and the country, according a report released yesterday by the Party's discipline watchdog.
The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection has vowed heavier supervision of all its Party members and a crackdown on corruption during the next five years.
The Party must "practice self-discipline and be strict with its members," and maintain high-intensity pressure in tackling corruption, the report said.
Everyone is equal before Party disciplines and the law, and whoever violates them shall be punished, regardless of his or her position, the report said.
The Party must put people first and guard their interests, targeting the pressing problems that are deeply complained about by the masses, the report said.
The report stressed that "at a time when the world, China and the CPC are undergoing profound changes, challenges the CPC faces are of lasting, complicated and grave nature, such as in governance, carrying on reform and opening-up, steering a market economy and withstanding outside pressures."
It continued: "Dangers facing the Party have become more prominent, such as a sit-back-and-relax mentality, incompetence, disconnection with the people, and corruption."
In a bid to ensure clean governance, it warned Party members to "keep ringing the alarm bell against corruption" as it was a "prolonged, complicated and arduous" fight.
The central and local commissions for discipline inspection should work to "resolve pressing corruption problems that cause strong public complaint," the document said.
The CPC has promised severe punishment of corrupt officials, saying major efforts will be made on cases involving power abuse, bribery, depraved conduct, dereliction of duty, and severe infringement of the people's economic, political and personal rights and interests, according to the report.
Corruption cases occurred frequently, particularly in certain regions and government departments, some of which involved huge sums of money and many corrupt officials. Those involving medium and high-ranking officials exerted threatening influence, the report said.
The document pointed out that corruption had become more complicated and camouflaged, while supervisory and prevention systems were still fledgling. This resulted in difficulties in discovering and investigating cases.
Lacked spirit
The report went on to add that some officials leveraged their power for illegal gains for their spouses, children, other relatives and people who work with them.
A minority of officials even lost faith, lacked spirit to endure hardship, distanced themselves from the public, indulged in formality, bureaucracy and extravagance; and a handful of officials even defied and violated the law and Party disciplines, the report said.
The chief of the discipline watchdog also called for a strengthened fight against corruption in order to build a clean Party.
At a conference attended by Party members and officials from the CCDI, commission head Wang Qishan championed efforts to improve CPC members' working practices.
Wang said the Party's discipline watchdog will target Party members' unhealthy practices.
He asked them to refrain from mediocrity, laziness, indiscipline and luxurious lifestyles.
Party members were told to correct unhealthy practices that harm people's interests and receive education that will help them better understand the viewpoints of the people.
Wang said efforts should be made to make the Party's political discipline strict.
Party officials, especially high-ranking ones, should better educate and restrain their relatives and staff members working closely with them, allowing no privilege.
The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection has vowed heavier supervision of all its Party members and a crackdown on corruption during the next five years.
The Party must "practice self-discipline and be strict with its members," and maintain high-intensity pressure in tackling corruption, the report said.
Everyone is equal before Party disciplines and the law, and whoever violates them shall be punished, regardless of his or her position, the report said.
The Party must put people first and guard their interests, targeting the pressing problems that are deeply complained about by the masses, the report said.
The report stressed that "at a time when the world, China and the CPC are undergoing profound changes, challenges the CPC faces are of lasting, complicated and grave nature, such as in governance, carrying on reform and opening-up, steering a market economy and withstanding outside pressures."
It continued: "Dangers facing the Party have become more prominent, such as a sit-back-and-relax mentality, incompetence, disconnection with the people, and corruption."
In a bid to ensure clean governance, it warned Party members to "keep ringing the alarm bell against corruption" as it was a "prolonged, complicated and arduous" fight.
The central and local commissions for discipline inspection should work to "resolve pressing corruption problems that cause strong public complaint," the document said.
The CPC has promised severe punishment of corrupt officials, saying major efforts will be made on cases involving power abuse, bribery, depraved conduct, dereliction of duty, and severe infringement of the people's economic, political and personal rights and interests, according to the report.
Corruption cases occurred frequently, particularly in certain regions and government departments, some of which involved huge sums of money and many corrupt officials. Those involving medium and high-ranking officials exerted threatening influence, the report said.
The document pointed out that corruption had become more complicated and camouflaged, while supervisory and prevention systems were still fledgling. This resulted in difficulties in discovering and investigating cases.
Lacked spirit
The report went on to add that some officials leveraged their power for illegal gains for their spouses, children, other relatives and people who work with them.
A minority of officials even lost faith, lacked spirit to endure hardship, distanced themselves from the public, indulged in formality, bureaucracy and extravagance; and a handful of officials even defied and violated the law and Party disciplines, the report said.
The chief of the discipline watchdog also called for a strengthened fight against corruption in order to build a clean Party.
At a conference attended by Party members and officials from the CCDI, commission head Wang Qishan championed efforts to improve CPC members' working practices.
Wang said the Party's discipline watchdog will target Party members' unhealthy practices.
He asked them to refrain from mediocrity, laziness, indiscipline and luxurious lifestyles.
Party members were told to correct unhealthy practices that harm people's interests and receive education that will help them better understand the viewpoints of the people.
Wang said efforts should be made to make the Party's political discipline strict.
Party officials, especially high-ranking ones, should better educate and restrain their relatives and staff members working closely with them, allowing no privilege.
