Disgraced Chinese officials confess to crimes on television

A number of senior party officials toppled in President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign made confessions on state television this week, as Xi lays the groundwork for a once-in-a-decade leadership reshuffle.

Analysts said the public humiliation of fallen senior cadres highlighted Xi’s determination to enshrine his anti-graft campaign, get ruling elites to toe the party line and discourage any potential political challengers.

The confessions were included in an eight-part TV series that was jointly produced by China Central Television and the Communist Party’s disciplinary watchdog under Wang Qishan, Xi’s right-hand man.

The first episode was broadcast to the country’s television viewers on Monday.

The series, Always on the Road, will air daily until next Monday, when a four-day plenary session of the Central Committee is scheduled to start. It will be the committee’s last major meeting before a new central leadership is formed next year.