Reporter's diary: No let up in tough anti-corruption drive

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Day two of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC): discipline on the menu.

After General Secretary of CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping’s marathon speech at the opening session in the Great Hall of the People on Wednesday, attention today shifted to the media center in western Beijing and a morning press conference on Party-building and anti-corruption.

CGTN Photo

The red-carpeted briefing room was crammed with domestic and foreign journalists, eager to find out more about a crackdown that has hit headlines around the world.

The anti-corruption drive and the determination to “offend several thousands rather than disappointing the 1.3 billion Chinese people” has been central to China’s governance over the past five years, and senior officials made clear this morning that the “tough stance” will continue.

CGTN pushed forward with an innovative live stream seamlessly merging TV and online reporting to bring viewers an essential introduction to the discipline press conference, during which Yang Xiaodu, deputy secretary of the CPC’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), used colorful language to describe the progress made in stamping out corruption.

Discipline inspection “cuts like a blade through corruption and misconduct,” he exclaimed, recounting the achievements since 2012: a total of 440 Party members in leadership positions investigated; 1.537 million Party members punished; 3,453 fugitives returned to China.

CGTN's commentator Robert L. Kuhn/ CGTN Photo

But journalists were looking to the future. How will the crackdown develop over the next five years? What are the CCDI’s plans?

“We will continue to see that in fighting corruption, there are no no-go zones, no ground left unturned, and no tolerance shown,” Yang stated, adding that a “crushing victory” will be secured only when no official dares, can, or wishes to be corrupt.

CGTN Photo

The CCDI man applauded achievements in tackling hedonism and extravagance since 2012, and said bureaucracy and formalism would be in focus over the coming five years.

He also stressed the importance of strong agencies to deliver results. “To strike iron the blacksmith must be strong,” he said, and pledged only “loyal, honest and accountable inspection teams” would be placed in the field.

CGTN Photo

A closely tied topic, the rule of law, was also on the agenda in the media center, thanks to a group interview with five delegates involved in the legal system in different parts of China.

They stressed the importance of strengthening the rule of law to ensure all Chinese are equal before it, and told their own experiences of working in the grassroots. This is one of the aspects of the CPC National Congress sometimes missed – everyday stories shared and learnt from.

But discipline was the headline topic of day two. If there were any doubts, today’s press conference eliminated them: China’s anti-corruption drive will continue in force over the next five years.