China’s sixth plenary to tackle corruption, centralization
October 24, 2016, 1:32 pm

The sixth plenary is likely to conclude with a strong communique targeting corruption as China continues to reform its economy [Xinhua]

One core issue focuses on the Rules on Intra-Party Political Life, which center around collective governance rather than localizing power to one person.

Some in the local press have speculated that President Xi Jinping may look to centralize Party roles under him in a bid to push forward his plans for boosting China’s economic and military stature.

In the past few years, he launched an anti-graft, anti-corruption drive to route out party officials who have been breaking commercial laws and gaining wealth through illicit means.

A Pew Research survey conducted in early October found that nearly 50 per cent of the Chinese public believe corrupt officials constitute a very big problem for the country. Eighty-three per cent said that corruption was a moderately big problem.

To combat this problem, the CPC is likely to strengthen Party political life by requiring stringent adherence to the Party’s constitution, regulations and political code of conduct.

In tandem with Xi’s anti-graft campaign, stringent adherence may require doling out severe punishments to officials who are considered corrupt and thereby sending a message of strict discipline.

The sixth plenary session also comes as China continues its corrective measures to reform the economy. GDP growth has fallen from double digits to a range of 6.5 to 7 per cent.

The CPC has tried to reshift priorities away from the traditional bastions of the economy – manufacturing, exports and government spending – to focus on domestic consumption and services.

While the plenary is being held behind closed doors and is not open to the public or the media, it is expected to make several statements about policy when it concludes on Thursday.

The BRICS Post with inputs from Agencies