Declarations of loyalty a feature of China's dog-eat-dog politics

Soon after the official announcement that former security tsar Zhou Yongkang was under investigation, various provinces, cities and departments began lining up to declare their support for the wisdom and rectitude of Xi Jinping's decision. Among them were Zhou's first and last places of work - the public security system, Sichuan province and China National Petroleum Corporation. They made sure to declare their support for Xi and distance themselves from their disgraced former patron.

Publicly declaiming one's loyalties is a special feature of communist Chinese politics. Politicians in other countries are also obliged at some time or other to pay lip service to important policies or events but the regularity of such declarations in China has made it part of the political cultural tradition.

Possibly only North Korea can rival China in this regard.

Although the mass campaigns of criticism and self-declarations were buried with Mao Zedong, in the reform era, when an important political figure falls or is involved in a big scandal, the entire party ranks and bureaucracy have to declare their position. And when the fallen official in question is related to a specific unit or person, his successor should lead the way in pronouncing their loyalties.

What can explain this passion for showing one's colours? For those at the top, it goes beyond wanting subordinates to show support. It is about submission to authority and ensuring that the party maintains coherence and consistency in political positions.

From the perspective of lower-level officials, showing one's colours is not simply about trying to curry favour. It is a demonstration of subservience, but the crucial thing is that it draws a boundary and creates distance from the target of criticism.