China’s graft-busters set to finalise ‘super agency’ plans as war on corruption hots up

Creation of a National Supervisory Commission likely to top the agenda as members of country’s top graft watchdog convene in Beijing

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The creation of a “super” commission for fighting corruption is likely to top the agenda at the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection’s meeting in Beijing this week. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 1:40pm, 11 Jan 2018Updated: 6:10pm, 11 Jan 2018

Members of China’s top anti-corruption agency gathered in Beijing on Thursday to set the agenda for the year ahead, with the final preparations for the creation of a “super” graft watchdog expected to be top of the agenda.

The three-day closed-door meeting of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) is the first since its new membership was elected at the national party congress in October, a meeting at which President Xi Jinping secured a second term in power.

The anti-corruption campaign launched by Xi since coming to power five years ago is the most sweeping and ferocious in Communist China’s history. More than 1.5 million cadres, including officials from the highest ranks of the party and military, have been disciplined or prosecuted for graft or disloyalty.

The campaign was spearheaded by Xi’s right-hand man and close ally, Wang Qishan, but the baton was passed to Zhao Leji, the new head of the CCDI, at the leadership reshuffle.

Zhao Leji was appointed secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection at the national party congress in October. Photo: AFP

As the crowning political achievement of the president’s first term, observers are keen to see where the campaign will go next.

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