China’s Xi Jinping to his top leadership: ‘no mercy’ in fight against corruption

Anti-corruption success is key message in approach to this year’s national party congress

Xi also urges cadres to align with key messages of last year’s sixth party plenum, which solidified his position

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Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses the opening of a study session at the Party School of the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee, attended by provincial and ministerial-level officials on Tuesday. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 6:00am, 12 Jan 2022Updated: 2:44pm, 12 Jan 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday warned the Communist Party’s top provincial and ministerial officials not to waver on anti-corruption efforts and to strictly follow Beijing’s strategic decisions as his administration prepares for a crucial national gathering this year, according to state media reports.

Xi made the remarks in Beijing at a Central Party School study session to ensure that provincial and ministerial top brass grasp the key points of a party plenum held late last year, state news agency Xinhua reported.

The Chinese leader’s speech echoed recent remarks he made that were seen by analysts as setting the stage for the 20th national party congress to be held in the second half of this year, during which a major party reshuffle will be discussed.

Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng attend the sixth plenary session of the 19th Communist Party of China Central Committee in Beijing. The session was held in Beijing from November 8 to 11, 2021. Photo: Xinhua

Hailing an ongoing anti-corruption campaign as “an overwhelming victory”, Xi told the senior cadres that they must keep up the “spirit of self-revolution” and never let their guard down.

“[We] must continue to fight the tough and long battle of building an honest and clean party and rid it of corruption,” Xi said. “There will be no mercy regardless of who you are if party rules and the country’s laws are broken.”

Xi launched the anti-corruption campaign soon after he became the party’s general secretary in 2012. Tens of thousands of officials have been arrested and prosecuted since the campaign started.

The two most recent senior officials to be ensnared are Zhang Yongze, a vice-chairman of the Tibet autonomous region government, and Wang Bin, chairman of China Life Insurance (Group). Their cases were announced by the party’s anti-graft investigators last week.