TV series shows anti-graft resolve

Criminal justice: Felons convicted of serious corruption would be prohibited from seeking shorter sentences, under a third reading of the draft amendment to the Criminal Law. The amendment aims to "safeguard judicial fairness". China Daily

A documentary series entitled The Corruption Fight Is Always Underway, produced by the top anti-graft watchdog and China Central Television, began airing on Monday.

The eight-episode series has drawn public attention because of the top authorities' courage in laying bare the extent of the corruption and extravagance of some disgraced officials.

For example, the documentary disclosed Zhou Benshun, a former Party chief of Hebei province, exclusively enjoyed an 800-square-meter military hotel with two chefs and two housekeepers, one of whom cared for his pets. And Bai Enpei, a former Party chief of Yunnan province, was disclosed to have received a jade bracelet worth 15 million yuan ($2.2 million) among other numerous valuables.

When the anti-corruption campaign was first launched by China's new leadership a few years ago, few believed that so many high-ranking officials would be netted. One of the reasons for this was senior officials were usually held up as role models for other officials, and it was believed that exposing the scale of their corruption to the public would damage the Party's image.

However, the unwavering anti-graft campaign of recent years and the high-pressure crackdown exerted on corrupt officials, no matter how senior they are, has shown that China's fight against corruption now makes no exceptions. The downfall of one senior official after another has dispelled public suspicions that some corrupt officials will be exempt from being held accountable for their misdeeds.

To lay bare the corruption of senior officials, as the documentary does, reflects the Party's confidence in its self-governance. It also embodies the Party's long-cherished belief that better governance of the nation comes from stricter self-governance.

Anti-corruption is a battle the Party must win. Disclosing to the public details about the wrongdoings of senior corrupt officials shows the top authorities are resolved to curb corruption and serves as a reminder that the fight is always underway.

--Beijing Youth Daily