China vows to punish corrupt officials while protecting those who 'dare to act'
A senior Chinese Communist Party official says strict party discipline is both a 'tightening spell' and a 'protective talisman' for officials, as Beijing seeks to balance anti-corruption with encouraging proactive governance.
A senior Chinese Communist Party official has described strict party discipline as both a “tightening spell” and a “protective talisman” for officials, as Beijing seeks to address concerns that anti-corruption drives are causing cadres to fear accountability and become passive.
Speaking at a press conference in Beijing on 30 October to explain the outcomes of the fifth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee, Huang Jianfa, executive deputy head of the party’s Organisation Department, said the key to governing the party strictly lies in “governing officials strictly”. He said the party would rigorously oversee the education, selection, appointment, management and supervision of cadres, and resolutely remove those who are disloyal to the party, act duplicitously or abuse power for personal gain.
When asked how to prevent officials from becoming reluctant to act for fear of being held accountable, Huang said that strict party governance and encouraging officials to take on responsibilities are internally consistent. “Strictness is not about tying everyone up,” he said, but about clarifying direction, setting rules, rectifying conduct and strengthening immunity to create a healthy political environment conducive to entrepreneurship.
Huang acknowledged that some party members and officials have problems with inaction or slow action, attributing this to a lack of motivation, fear of making mistakes, or insufficient capability. He said these issues must be taken seriously and addressed. The plenum adopted a decision on persistently advancing the comprehensive strict governance of the party, which includes four major deployments: adhering to the correct orientation in selecting officials, improving assessment mechanisms to address inaction and misconduct, caring for grassroots cadres, and improving incentive and protection mechanisms for those who take on responsibilities.
Huang stressed that the principle of “officials take on responsibilities for the cause, and the organisation takes on responsibilities for officials” is a clear requirement. The decision, he said, emphasises the need to seriously investigate and punish false accusations, and to promptly carry out rehabilitation and name-clearing work, truly supporting those who take on responsibilities.