China’s corruption watchdog vows to focus on finances, health care delivery, dishonesty

Some of last year’s goals, including education, sports, grain reserves and statistics, were dropped at the annual meeting to develop the CCDI’s work plan for the coming year.

‘[We must] “We will continue to apply pressure and continue to closely monitor key issues, key areas, key individuals and new forms of corruption, especially covert corruption,” the communique said, according to state news agency Xinhua.

Xi tells corruption hunters not to relent in ‘tough and complex’ battle

According to the communiqué, the CCDI’s top priorities are to “severely punish corruption that involves collusion between governments and companies” and “strengthen remediation” in listed sectors.

The communiqué was also notable as the first official document praising “Xi Jinping’s important ideas on party self-revolution,” marking an addition to Xi Jinping’s growing set of political principles.

In its communiqué, the CCDI lavished praise on the leadership’s commitment to discipline since coming to power. “With unprecedented determination, Mr. Xi led the entire party in promoting comprehensive and strict governance.”

Speaking at the CCDI conference on Monday, President Xi showed little interest in abandoning efforts to clean up China’s rusty bureaucracy.

“We must never back down, slack off or show mercy in the fight against corruption,” Xi said, adding to the relentless pressure on Chinese authorities to redouble their efforts to implement their policies. It showed strong political will behind the move.

The additions to Mr. Xi’s doctrine come three months after the party’s top propagandists endorsed his ideas on culture, including instructions on propaganda, news and public opinion, at a national conference in October.

Chinese authorities rush to introduce Xi culture and propaganda

The supreme leader’s political principles, known as Xi Jinping’s New Era Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, have been enshrined in China’s constitution since 2018.

The CCDI pledged to remain focused on the loyalty of the party’s more than 98 million members to Mr. Xi and to challenge officials to firmly adhere to Mr. Xi’s policy direction.

“[We will] “I will supervise the entire party so that it can unite its thoughts, unite its will, and move forward in unity,” the communiqué said.

According to the CCDI, it investigated 4.7 million officials during the first 10 years of its anti-corruption campaign. The watchdog launched 45 investigations into senior officials last year, according to a tally by the South China Morning Post.

The number set a record for the campaign since it began in late 2012, when Mr. Xi took power promising a tough and thorough anti-corruption campaign.

‘Tiger hunt’: China’s anti-corruption war sees record purges of senior officials

On Thursday, the National Audit Office (NAO) pledged at a business meeting to focus on auditing the implementation of key regional planning strategies and the construction of major capital projects.

The NAO said that in 2024 it would pay close attention to departments responsible for finance, monetary policy, employment, industry, regional programs, technology and environmental protection.

Audits of China’s big data industry were specifically mentioned. The NAO said it would also monitor progress on key reforms in public financing, the financial sector, state-owned enterprises and their assets, and foreign trade and investment.

The auditors also warned that they are paying special attention to the disclosure of outstanding risks such as serious corruption, financial fraud and audit fraud.