China Strictly Addresses Corruption: President Xi Without Compromise, Confession Of Corruptors Aired On Television

Ilustrasi. (Wikimedia Commons/Presidential Press and Information Office)

JAKARTA - China has reaffirmed its seriousness in fighting corruption, with President Xi Jinping opting for a zero-tolerance approach and confessions of corruption being shown on television, although he has yet to appear in court and has drawn criticism from human rights groups.

President Xi Jinping has told the Communist Party's top disciplinary watchdog to take a "zero tolerance" approach to corruption and ensure cadres closely follow Beijing's policy decisions.

President Xi made the remarks at a meeting of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) in Beijing on Tuesday, citing SCMP from the Xinhua News Agency Jan. 20.

The meeting, which was held to determine the direction of the supervisors' work this year, was attended by all members of the Politburo Standing Committee for policy makers.

President Xi said the anti-corruption campaign over the past decade since he took power in 2012 has made historic and innovative achievements.

"After 10 years, certain unhealthy tendencies that have not been controlled for a long time have been curbed, many problems that have plagued us for a long time have been overcome and the potential for serious harm in the party, state and military has taken root," Xi said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Wikimedia Commons/Presidential Press and Information Office)

The issue of weak governance of party organizations has also been addressed at a fundamental level, according to President Xi. But he said the war had not been won and told anti-corruption investigators they should improve their performance as corruption is becoming increasingly difficult to detect.

"There is still a long way to go to prevent all kinds of interest groups from meeting and undermining our officials. There is still a long way to go to effectively tackle corruption that is more invisible and entrenched. And we still have a long way to go to eradicate it completely," he stressed.

Senior cadres at the meeting were ordered to 'educate the family', because many corruption cases involve family members of officials. In addition, President Xi also asked CCDI to strengthen the “political oversight” of local officials, to ensure the 'complete, accurate and comprehensive' implementation of its policies in nation-building.

"(You must) guide and supervise party members and cadres to thoroughly understand the main policies of the party center, keep them in line with the party center at all times, and firmly implement its decisions," Xi said.

"There must be no compromise, no window dressing, no tricks to play based on local or short-term interests. (We must) ensure that there is no deviation, no compromise and no distortion."

It didn't stop there, the fight against corruption was also shown on state television, with the first in a five-part documentary series, a co-production with the CDI, airing on CCTV last Saturday. In the first installment, Sun Lijun, a former deputy minister of public security, admitted to taking bribes.

Chinese illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Wilson Hui)

As reported by NDTV, the state television series about China's anti-corruption campaign captivated viewers and unmasked officials who were indicted on corruption charges.

The ongoing five-part series broadcast by state broadcaster CCTV, shows televised confessions by officials accused of corruption, including former deputy public security minister Sun Lijun.

Sun, who oversaw security in Hong Kong during months of unrest, faces charges that include taking bribes, manipulating the stock market, illegally possessing firearms and paying for sex.

The TV series claims Sun took regular bribes of US$14 million disguised as a "small seafood box" from a man, whom he later appointed police chief in {eastern Jiangsu province.

"I've been helping him all this time," said Sun at the event.

It is common practice for CCTV to broadcast "confessions" by criminal suspects, including former officials, even before they appear in court, something human rights groups widely condemn.

Another episode featured Chen Gang of the China Science and Technology Association, who is said to have built a 72,000-square-meter (775,000-square-foot) private complex complete with Chinese-style residences, swimming pools and a man-made beach with ill-funded funds.

To note, officials convicted of corruption can be stripped of their wealth, party membership, and face life imprisonment behind bars or even the death penalty.

More than a million officials have been convicted under the anti-corruption campaign so far, which has been the cornerstone of Xi's tenure.

For example, Wang Fuyu, who appeared in the second episode of the series, was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve on Monday, the day after his confession aired.