The Communist Party of China (CPC) has reaffirmed its commitment to an uncompromising anti-corruption campaign, pledging stronger oversight of officials, stricter discipline and comprehensive measures to prevent abuse of power.
At the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, which concluded on Thursday, the Party adopted a resolution on strengthening internal governance, emphasising that officials must have neither the audacity, opportunity nor desire to engage in corruption.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, senior anti-graft official Zhang Fuhai described the challenge as serious, saying, “The anti-graft fight remains a grave and complex challenge, and much remains to be done to eliminate the conditions and fertile ground that give rise to corruption.”
According to Zhang, since 2012, anti-corruption authorities have opened 8.105 million cases and punished 7.922 million people, including 963 senior officials under the supervision of the CPC Central Committee.
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In 2025 alone, 115 officials at ministerial level or above were investigated, while 627,000 people were disciplined over misconduct and corruption. More than 500 cross-border corruption cases were also investigated.
The Party has pledged to tackle both the symptoms and root causes of corruption through tougher punishment, targeted reforms and preventive measures.
A communique was issued after the plenum declared, “We must take systematic steps to address both symptoms and root causes of corruption and adopt a holistic approach that combines severe punishment, targeted remedy, and effective prevention, carrying this fight through to the end.”
Zhang further stressed the determination behind the campaign, saying, “This is a battle that we cannot afford to lose and must never lose.”
Meanwhile, officials clarified that stricter discipline is not intended to discourage initiative but to promote accountability, integrity and responsible leadership. The resolution also emphasised that nobody is above Party rules and that oversight must apply at every level.
Strengthening Party Governance
Beyond fighting corruption, the plenum outlined broader reforms covering Party discipline, leadership development, institutional accountability and improved supervision.
With more than 100 million members, the CPC also highlighted the importance of strengthening its organisational presence in emerging employment sectors, particularly among the estimated 84 million platform-based workers, including delivery couriers, ride-hailing drivers and e-commerce workers.
The overall objective, according to Party officials, is to strengthen public confidence through transparent leadership, disciplined administration and clean governance.
Reinforcing the need for continuous vigilance, Zhong Baijun, a village Party chief who attended the plenum, observed: “Weeds don’t stop growing just because you’ve pulled them once,” drawing a comparison with the ongoing need for strict Party self-governance.
Xinhua
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