Focus of Sixth Plenum on Party discipline

Intensify drive against graft

That the anti-corruption campaign has had a "freezing impact" on many officials and made them "lazy" at work may be just rumors. But more measures targeting "lazy" workers should be taken as part of the anti-corruption campaign, says a commentary on the website of the overseas edition of People's Daily. Excerpts:

The vow of the Sixth Plenum of the 18th CPC Central Committee to strengthen Party governance and its review of two important documents aimed at regulating intra-Party discipline symbolize the fight against corruption launched by the Party after its 18th National Congress in late 2012. The campaign has entered the stage of institution building, and the Party is honoring its commitment to gradually shift the focus from the "surface" to the "roots" to eliminate corruption from society.

While vigorously advancing the anti-corruption campaign, the top authorities have also paid great attention to some officials' "inaction". In May, commenting on the lack of enthusiasm among some officials toward work, top leader Xi Jinping said the matter was of extreme importance and was yet to be solved. Premier Li Keqiang, too, has said that government officials' failure to fulfill their duties is a kind of corruption.

For some officials, "inaction" is the result of their lack of motivation to perform their duties that earlier could fetch them some illegal benefits. Other officials have chosen "inaction" to passively oppose the anti-corruption campaign.

Either way, such officials have shown they would rather indulge in corruption to make illicit gains, which proves the soil that breeds corruption has not been cleansed.

Since some officials have chosen to be "lazy" to avoid committing "mistakes" and being caught in the act, the authorities should strengthen the anti-corruption measures to identify the guilty and bring them to book. And this is precisely what the Sixth Plenum has vowed to do to regulate intra-Party political life and strengthen intra-Party supervision.

Expose duality of officials

Corruption Fight is Always Underway, a documentary that was aired one week before the Sixth Plenum of the 18th CPC Central Committee, reveals the other side of corrupt officials, says a commentary in China Youth Daily. Excerpts:

While they held important positions, corrupt officials were either using emotional articulation or were pretending to be self-righteous to prove their honesty. Even in the new era of strict Party governance, some corrupt officials still wear the mask of honesty and responsibility.

Although they do not receive special training, some officials often belie their sense of superiority through their oral and written expressions while addressing subordinates or grassroots people. The same officials, however, behave differently in front of their superiors; they become the epitome of humility.

Some people climb up the career ladder by talking big. How do such people succeed in their endeavor? Officials have summed up their own experiences and their road to success: not speaking the truth. So the higher authorities should take measures to prevent such officials from using falsity and clichés, and encourage people to speak up.

At important events, corrupt officials surprisingly speak like ordinary people, rarely veering from the truth. The need is to expose such officials and bring them to book.