All provinces and cities have been told to report to central authorities on 'factors of instability'.
A party source said yesterday the General Office of the party Central Committee had issued a circular to regional officials asking them to raise their guard against challenges to the administration.
The circular was issued in tandem with President Jiang Zemin's speech on Friday marking the 20th anniversary of late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping's reforms.
'Local cadres must file a detailed report on areas including labour unrest, underground organisations and other 'anti-Beijing' elements,' the source said.
They also were asked to organise special ideological classes to study Mr Jiang's speech, which emphasised maintaining national stability and fighting Western influences.
The source added that similar instructions had been given to leading cadres in universities.
These cadres were asked to be on the look-out for anti-government activities by students.