From OSC Analysis:

Authoritative PRC leadership statements and commentary surrounding the annual plenary meeting of the party’s Central Discipline Inspection Commission (CDIC) suggest that the party’s current campaign against corruption has been intensified and is focused on curbing corruption at the lower levels of the party and the government.¬† The steady stream of reports in the PRC media in recent months of the dismissal and punishment of corrupt officials provides further evidence of the campaign.

PRC media coverage of the annual CDIC plenary session, held in Beijing 8-10 January, suggests that the party is putting increased emphasis on its ongoing corruption campaign begun in Fall 2006.

— Communist Party of China (CPC) General Secretary Hu Jintao, in a 9 January speech at the plenum, introduced “eight points” to improve “cadres’ style” of work through which the party could better fight corruption (Xinhua).¬† Hu has spoken at the CDIC plenum every year since taking office in 2002 and many of the ideas expressed have long been promoted by PRC media, but this is the first time that they have been put together into an organized formulation for fighting corruption.

— In another sign of the elevation of the anti-corruption campaign, the CPC Central Committee daily Renmin Ribao published a series of eight commentator articles following the plenum, one on each of Hu’s eight points (22-29 January).¬† Renmin Ribao has not been observed in past years to publish commentator articles, which are highly authoritative party pronouncements, after the CDIC plenum.

— Renmin Ribao also published a separate commentator article prior to the series praising Hu’s speech, saying that unless Hu’s ideas are implemented, corruption will “tarnish the party-masses relationship” suggesting party concern about the impact of corruption on the party’s image and authority (17 January).

The eight points in Hu’s speech appear aimed primarily at lower-level cadres, calling on them to improve their work and follow the dictates of higher levels of the party.

— Implicitly addressing lower-level cadres, two of the eight points called for stricter adherence to the directives of central authorities.¬† Hu said that cadres should “consciously safeguard the authority” of the CPC Central Committee, “enforce order,” and “consciously accept supervision by the party organization.”¬† Another point called for cadres to study party doctrine “diligently.”

— Three of the points directed cadres to pay better attention to the needs of the people, suggesting a concern to avoid sparking social unrest.¬† Hu encouraged cadres to “work in a down-to-earth way and ensure practical results,” to “always bear the masses in mind,” and to “do more concrete things to comply with the will of the people, to dispel their worry, and to seek their interest.”¬† Hu also warned cadres to “perform duties honestly” and “strictly enforce various regulations for honesty of leading cadres.”

— Two points instructed cadres to improve their personal and work habits, urging a “healthy lifestyle and hobbies,” working “diligently and thriftily,” and “noble spiritual pursuits.”

Renmin Ribao’s Unusual Series of Commentator Articles

The thrust of the unusual series of Renmin Ribao commentator articles also suggests the campaign is focused on lower-level cadres.  The articles exhort local cadres to follow the direction of the central authorities and avoid compromising situations.

— The fifth article explicitly warned local-level cadres to adhere to central directives, saying that “strictly enforcing orders and prohibitions” is necessary “in order to finally achieve local benefits.”¬† The article stressed that “local situations should be subordinate to the overall situation” and that currently existing “disunity will cause serious consequences for the party and the country” suggesting concern over the potential impact of corruption on the party’s image and control (26 January).

— The sixth article continued the warning against defying the party center, criticizing cadres who “do things on behalf of others without the proper authorization” (27 January).

— The eighth article was especially explicit in explaining how cadres should maintain “an excellent lifestyle and healthy life interests,” urging cadres to “make friends with as many of the following people as possible: ordinary people, grassroots cadres, advanced figures, role models, specialists, and scholars.”¬† The article also cautioned cadres to “be highly alert to every person who flatters them for his/her ulterior purposes” and “absolutely not ‘ally themselves with moneybags’ to pursue personal hedonism” (29 January).

Usual Efforts to Promote CDIC Plenum

The unusual attention to the CDIC plenum comes on top of the standard PRC media treatment given to past plenums, promoting anti-corruption ideas through central leaders’ statements and authoritative commentary.¬† Central leaders and party and government organs held several meetings in the weeks following the plenum to push anti-corruption initiatives.¬† Also in customary fashion, PRC media carried commentary and articles on Hu’s speech and the anti-corruption campaign in general in lower-level media.

— Premier Wen Jiabao held a State Council meeting 9 February announcing “measures” that the government “will take in the new year to check corruption, targeting in particular unnecessary red tape, collusion between officials and businessmen, extravagance and waste,” as well as “the widespread trend of building and renovating government offices against regulations” and “promoting a thrifty lifestyle” (Xinhua).

— Deputy CDIC Secretary He Yong spoke at a meeting on the implementation of guidelines on corruption punishment and prevention, at which he called for “the implementation of a comprehensive evaluation system that would prevent corrupt officials from being promoted” (Xinhua, 2 February). Xinhua earlier reported He Yong characterizing Hu’s speech as “calling for a more severe and systematic crackdown on corruption” (17 January).

— An article carried by Xinhua following the plenum said that “all localities and departments have swiftly relayed, seriously studied, and fully grasped comrade Hu Jintao’s important speech” at the plenum and “set forth specific measures for resolute implementation.”¬† The article described at length various meetings, study sessions, and pronouncements held by party and state organs and provincial and municipal party committees (21 January).

Local Officials Punished Along with Central Officials

Recent media reporting on arrests of officials under the ongoing anti-corruption drive likewise suggests a focus on lower-level cadres, although some higher level officials have also been implicated, most notably Shanghai Party Secretary and Politburo member Chen Liangyu (see CPF20060925443001).

— The CDIC announced on 2 February that it punished 20,768 lower-level rural cadres in 2006, and all worked at the village level except 273, who worked at the county level (Xinhua).¬† Since PRC media began giving high profile attention to the anti-corruption drive in September 2006, Xinhua has not been observed to publish the number of local level cadres who were punished, only the national total.

— Higher level officials who have been disciplined or investigated since the Shanghai Pension Fund scandal began receiving attention, in addition to Chen, include former National Bureau of Statistic Director Qiu Xiaohua, former State Food and Drug Administration head Zheng Xiaoyu, Anhui Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Vice Chairman Wang Zhaoyao, former Anhui Vice Governor He Minxu, and Guangdong Vice Governor Liu Weiming (Xinhua, 26 January; 12 February).