Party spells out crisis plan to keep firm grip on nation

Communist rule will not last forever if nothing is done to safeguard it, cadres are warned in hard-hitting blueprint

The Chinese Communist Party yesterday unveiled a blueprint to consolidate its ruling position, calling on cadres to strengthen their ability to govern an increasingly complex nation that lives under the threat of 'hostile forces'.

The 36-page document - endorsed by the fourth plenum of the party's 16th central committee last Sunday and released by Xinhua last night - delivered a strong and urgent crisis message to the CCP's 68-million members.

It warned that the party's ruling status was 'by no means a natural result of the party's founding, and will not remain forever if the party does nothing to safeguard it'.

'There has been no change in the strategy by hostile forces to impose westernisation and disintegration on us,' the opening paragraph said. 'We still face pressure from developed countries that enjoy competitive advantages in the aspects of economic and technology development over us.'

The document said the party's leadership and governance was still imperfect, citing among its problems rampant corruption in some departments and loose morals in some grassroots units.

'These problems will undermine the party's ruling effectiveness. They must receive high attention from the party and be resolved properly,' it warned, while keeping economic development a priority.

In order to ensure the implementation of the party's policies, the party should strengthen its leadership through legal means.

'It should be good at turning the party's ideas into the will of the state through legislative procedures. This will ensure the thorough implementation of the party's policies with institutional and legal safeguards,' the blueprint said.

The party also reaffirmed its need to keep a tight grip on the media, pledging to 'firmly hold the direction of public opinion and correctly guide public opinion'.

'In this regard, the principle that the party controls the media must be upheld, so as to enhance the capability to guide public opinion and gain the initiative of the media work,' it said. It also vowed to assume a strong position in creating 'positive views' on the internet by stepping up government and self-regulation.

On the economy, it said the party committee would make collective decisions on major planning and policy deliberations.

The party would step up the forecasting of economic trends, and map out effective solutions to problems that may arise. It would also continue to pay attention to weaknesses in the economy - especially problems with the agricultural sector, development of the western region and rejuvenation of the northeastern industrial belt - while working to narrow the wealth gap with tough measures.

On the political system, the party would expand the 'orderly participation of citizens in politics' by insisting on and refining the National People's Congress system.

The party pledged to implement its religious freedom policy, adding, however, that it would continue to 'actively guide religious activities into adapting with socialism'.

In a bid to improve its decision-making process, the document said the party would engage experts in deliberating on professional and technical subjects. It would also hold hearings on major decisions affecting the public.

The party also pledged to trace officials who commit mistakes and to build an accountability system.

Despite the external threat it perceives, the document said the CCP would uphold the banners of peace, development and co-operation in handling foreign affairs. It would adhere to the independent foreign policy of peace and never declare itself a hegemonic power.

The party said it would continue to oppose foreign intervention in the affairs of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. It would also support the two chief executives in 'ruling in accordance with the law and raising their standard of governance'.

The party would continue to unite people from different sectors in the two special administrative regions and open a new chapter in the implementation of the 'one country, two systems' formula, the document added.

Regarding the issue of Taiwan, the party said its sacred mission was to achieve reunification. It added that it would maintain the principles of 'peaceful reunification' and 'one country, two systems'.

Additional reporting by Martin Wong