EditorialCorrupt left waiting with latest pardons

Crooked officials have been one of the fastest growing categories of prisoners in China’s jails, thanks to an anti-corruption campaign described by the Communist Party as a “crushing victory”. It may have been going on for nearly seven years, with more than 1.3 million convictions, but not a single ex-official will be considered for a pardon in a prisoner amnesty announced by Beijing as part of its celebrations on October 1 marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic. This suggests President Xi Jinping sees the fight against corruption as far from over.

Evidence of that comes from a spokesman for the National People’s Congress, which approved the amnesty: “Considering the fight against corruption remains a challenge, and to maintain the pressure of the crackdown, it would be inappropriate to grant amnesties to corruption convicts.” Consequently, as with those who break security laws, they find themselves denied pardons along with murderers, rapists, kidnappers and drug traffickers.

In any case, they hardly fall within the nine categories of prisoner to be considered for release, which include those aged 75 and above with physical disabilities, and others who took part in the war against Japan that ended in 1945, or the civil war that concluded in 1949. The amnesty is the second of Xi’s presidency and ninth granted to prisoners guilty of less serious crimes on the occasion of important national events. In 2015, about 31,000 were pardoned to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of the Sino-Japanese war, which also marked the end of World War II.

It tries to balance the principle of strict adherence to the rule of law to enhance social stability with a display of leniency and compassion appropriate on special national occasions. Indeed, officials hope the pardons have a positive political, legal and social impact as China faces a new set of challenges in maintaining economic growth and harmony, headed by the US-China trade war. It remains to be seen whether the authorities will feel comfortable one day about extending amnesties to those who have fallen foul of security laws in their fight for rights, and for corrupt officials who have already paid a heavy personal price in terms of careers and reputations.