BEIJING – Chinese President Xi Jinping has renewed his call for a rigorous internal crackdown on corruption within the Communist Party, urging officials to “turn the knife inward” to tackle issues of discipline and eradicate misconduct. The remarks signal a continued push to root out corruption among both high-ranking and lower-level party members, as well as those who influence them.
Since assuming power more than a decade ago, Mr. Xi has targeted corruption through extensive campaigns, punishing both senior officials, referred to as “tigers,” and rank-and-file members, dubbed “flies,” for failing to execute party policies effectively. However, corruption remains a persistent problem, particularly within the military.
In the past two years, two former defense ministers have been purged from the party for “serious violations of discipline,” a term widely understood to mean corruption. In November, the Defence Ministry revealed that an admiral from the Central Military Commission, China’s highest military authority, was under investigation for similar violations.
Mr. Xi’s speech, given at a January meeting of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection but disclosed only recently through Qiushi Journal, underscored his resolve to clamp down on internal graft. “We must have the courage to turn the knife inward and eliminate their negative impact in a timely manner to ensure that the party is always full of vigor and vitality,” he stated.
The president also highlighted the need to guard against “interest groups, organizations of power, or privileged classes” that could exploit or corrupt party members. “As the situation and tasks facing the party change, there will inevitably be all kinds of conflicts and problems within the party,” he warned.
In 2023 alone, the party disciplined approximately 610,000 officials for various violations, including 49 senior officials above the vice-minister or governor level, according to the party’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.
The ongoing campaign reflects the party’s continued struggle to maintain unity and discipline under Mr. Xi’s leadership while addressing vulnerabilities within key institutions like the armed forces. His remarks suggest a broadening of efforts to ensure the party and its officials adhere strictly to party principles.