Some analysts view Xi Jinping, the top leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC), as an “idealist”. And some say that, while most people in China are busy seeking material benefits, and feel complacent about the increasingly crucial role that China plays in the world, Xi is among the very few Chinese policymakers at the top who has always remained sober-minded. As a matter of fact, idealistic passion is common among those engaged in politics, but a good statesman sets himself apart from others by combining passion with composure. Xi’s recent remarks attested to this.
Anyone who keeps an eye on the recent developments in China would know that in 2014, despite the mounting downward pressure on China’s economy, the Chinese government and its ruling party still managed to do one thing to the satisfaction of the Chinese people. They launched an anti-corruption campaign in a real sense, which brought down “tigers”, or bribe-taking high-ranking military officers and government officials from the height of their powerful positions, and removed “flies”, or corrupt petty officials, and brought them to justice. The campaign has gained a lot of support and appreciation from the general public. But in spite of such success, Xi Jinping has kept his mind clear. His analysis and judgment on the issue were beyond people’s expectations. He said that China’s anti-corruption campaign still faces “grave and complicated challenges”, and that “corruption is indeed kept at bay but not yet wiped out, and though the anti-corruption mechanism has been established, it is not a full-fledged one”. In one word, he believes that the campaign has fallen short of “an overwhelming victory”.
Will there be “an overwhelming victory” in the fight against corruption in 2015? As a matter of fact, this is not Xi’s goal. He sees the anti-corruption campaign as “an arduous and protracted war”. For him, the most desirable blueprint is “reducing the inventory of corruption, curbing its increase and rebuilding the political ecosystem”. To turn this blueprint into reality, Xi said that it is imperative to keep applying high pressure, adopt zero tolerance, and retain the determination and courage to take strong measures, suffer great pains and enforce stringent discipline. He said it is crucial to get to the bottom of each and every case, give teeth to the anti-corruption efforts and form a powerful deterrent. He used a household story from ancient China to make his point. It is a story about a general named Guan Yu, who was once wounded by a poisonous arrow, and without taking an anaesthetic, he had someone cut open his arm and scrape away the poison in his bone to save his life. Xi used this story to illustrate his determination to fight corruption. And a few days after he made those remarks on corruption, a “Military Tiger List” was released, which included the names of 16 corrupt high-ranking military officers–a general, 3 lieutenant generals, 11 major generals and a senior colonel. Due to his earlier experience in the army, Xi feels a strong affinity with the military. But maybe precisely because of his own military experience, he was deeply disappointed and frustrated with the incompetence and corruption of some commanders, and with a lack of coordination, inadequate training and loose discipline in the military after he assumed chairmanship of the CPC Military Commission. He has since taken two very effective measures to rectify the military, namely, scaling up various military exercises, and intensifying the fight against corruption. He told his generals, “We don’t do this because we want to pick a fight with someone, but because corruption in the army is synonymous with a failure in the battleground”.
Some doubt whether the CPC could keep the anti-corruption campaign going. Or in another word, they are worried that some interest groups may launch a counterattack, which would ultimately lead to an abortion of this campaign. To make their case, they cited the prevalence of a thinly veiled defense for the corrupt officials and the claims that anti-corruption efforts may result in economic slowdown and loss of face for the government and the ruling party.
I think such worries are unwarranted. Xi and his team know pretty well and have long been prepared for the new features and trends of the anti-corruption campaign. First, they are highly vigilant against a possible counterattack or backlash from vested interest groups. Recently, Xi and his colleagues underscored the importance of discipline and rules and regulations for government officials, and voiced their firm opposition to “small groups” who seek selfish vested interests. Second, Xi knows full well that if he gives up halfway, he will let the people down and lose their trust, and that it will significantly compromise the political foundation of the ruling party. In this context, the destiny of China, and that of China’s ruling party, hinges on whether this anti-corruption campaign will bring about a clean, efficient and service-oriented government.
Xi has adopted this mission as one of his ideals. And this is exactly the source of his passion and composure.
