Ling's arrest a vital lesson for officials

Ling Jihua, the former vice chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, attends a meeting during this 2013 file photo. [Photo/Agencies]

Ling Jihua has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and prosecutors have opened an investigation into his suspected crimes and decided to arrest him, authorities announced on Monday.

The arrest of Lin Jihua, former vice top political advisor, seven months after he was placed under internal investigation for disciplinary violations is a reflection of the central authorities' resolve to fight corruption.

The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee passed the ruling because Ling, according to Xinhua, had taken huge bribes, used his position to seek benefits for others and obtained many core secrets of the Party and the country in violation of Party discipline and the country's laws.

By forming a political faction during his term in office, Ling poisoned the social atmosphere and soiled the Party's established tradition of serving the people. Ling's faction comprised not only backstage commanders, but also lower-level officials trying to climb up the political ladder. If Ling's activities were not discovered in time, he could have dealt a blow to the cause of the Party and the nation, and entrapped more people his dirty game.

In the early days of New China, which was founded in 1949, the CPC adopted a series of policies and measures to promote normal exchanges among officials. Mutual exchanges and joint studies became more regular and institutionalized after the reform and opening-up were launched. As such, Ling's activities can only be seen as an attempt to sabotage the appointment system of Party cadres and foster a personal allegiance-based culture in the bureaucracy. They also were an attempt to erode the foundation of the political and social structure.

To end such factionalism, the existing official selection system, largely characterized by the appointment of lower-level officials by their seniors, has to be reformed in order to grant the people greater say in the appointment of officials. Only in this way can officials be motivated to maintain close contacts with ordinary people and help resolve their practical problems, instead of only trying to keep their superior officials happy.