Party conduct key to clean governance

The fifth plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection adopted a communique on Wednesday which called for perseverance in the war against corruption. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Monday called for advancing full and rigorous Party self-governance with higher standards and more concrete measures. Xi pointed out that in 2025, the CPC Central Committee had intensified efforts to improve Party conduct, uphold integrity and combat corruption, achieving notable results.

In fact, from March to July in 2025, the Communist Party of China carried out an intensive campaign to implement the central Party leadership's eight-point decision on improving Party and government conduct. The results so far are notable. The firm implementation of the eight-point decision has led to significant improvements and offered Chinese wisdom of governance to political parties worldwide.

As revealed in the latest documentary co-produced by the Party discipline authorities and CCTV, Jiang Chaoliang, the former Party chief of Hubei province, along with his family members, and Tang Renjian, the former agriculture minister, did not become major corruption figures overnight. They gradually succumbed to the influence of profit-seeking businessmen through lavish feasts and entertainment.

That's why in 2026, the eight-point decision should be treated as an ironclad rule and steadfast efforts must be made to implement it. The Party must continue to relentlessly address formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism and extravagance. The self-reform should be normalized, institutionalized and carried through to the end.

Self-reform is neither optional nor selective. Every Party organization and member, regardless of position or rank, must shoulder the responsibility. In December, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision exposed seven cases of violations of the eight-point decision, including that of Ye Hanbing, former vice-governor of Sichuan province. Some of the individuals indulged in pleasure-seeking while others had distorted views on performance. They showed no restraint, committing violations shortly after the study campaign of the eight-point decision ended.

Unhealthy practices rarely happen in isolation. They are often intertwined with entrenched problems such as clique culture, favoritism and covert interest transfers. Together, these issues damage the image of Party members and undermine the integrity of officials.

Party conduct is critical for its very existence. It shapes the Party's image and determines the level of public support it enjoys. Problems like formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism and extravagance tend to recur. We must acknowledge this and develop a mindset of consistently and persistently addressing these issues.

In 2025, several cases of illegal banquets and serious violations of the eight-point decision were reported across Henan, Hubei and Anhui provinces and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. These cases reveal that some Party members, including senior officials, lack political awareness and discipline. They are addicted to indulgent dining and drinking and have deeply entrenched unhealthy habits, reflecting weak Party consciousness. It is therefore imperative to build a strong ideological defense line and turn the implementation of the eight-point decision into a process of tempering the Party spirit. Through persistent practice, sound conduct should become both a belief and a habit.

Since the 20th CPC National Congress in 2022, a total of 605,000 violations of the eight-point decision have been investigated across China, with 823,000 individuals disciplined or educated. This has fostered an atmosphere of disciplined governance and sent out a clear message. Rectification must be carried out with the same resolve, institutional mechanisms strengthened and systems improved to identify and resolve problems on a regular basis. This will ensure lasting effectiveness of the measures.

Efforts should focus on reform through case handling, aligning the authorization, exercise and supervision of power, supported by transparent and traceable institutional frameworks. Targeted campaigns must continue to address misconduct and corruption that directly affect people's livelihoods, identify root causes and patterns and eliminate the breeding ground where corruption and unhealthy practices grow. Focus should be on key officials, critical posts and major decision-making areas, while using digital supervision for a comprehensive oversight of power.

Discipline enforcement, anti-corruption efforts and conduct rectification should move in an integrated manner. Discipline inspection and supervision must play a leading role while coordinating Party supervision, regulatory oversight and public scrutiny. Priority should be given to combating illegal banquets, improper allowances, infringement of public interests, inaction or irresponsibility, and practices that add unnecessary burden at the grassroots level.

The intertwining of misconduct and corruption is a major challenge, and greater efforts must be made to investigate and address both simultaneously. Violations must be dealt with promptly and strictly, and rules enforced with rigid consequences.

The author is a former vice-president of the China Academy of Discipline Inspection and Supervision.

The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

If you have a specific expertise, or would like to share your thought about our stories, then send us your writings at opinion@chinadaily.com.cn, and comment@chinadaily.com.cn.