Xi Jinping Reaffirms Zero-Tolerance Stance as China Intensifies Anti-Corruption Drive

President Xi Jinping said China’s anti-corruption campaign remains complex and long-term, urging stricter Party self-governance and zero tolerance for graft. Speaking to discipline watchdogs, he called for curbing collusion between officials and business, strengthening oversight, enforcing discipline, and sustaining reforms to ensure officials neither dare nor desire to be corrupt.

China’s top leadership has reiterated that the campaign against corruption remains a demanding and long-term challenge, with President Xi Jinping calling for unwavering resolve and stricter oversight across the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Speaking on Monday at the opening of the second plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) in Beijing, Xi—who also serves as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission—underscored the need to push forward comprehensive and rigorous self-governance within the Party. He reaffirmed a stance of zero tolerance toward corruption, describing the current anti-graft landscape as both serious and complex.

Xi stressed that authorities must intensify efforts to uncover and punish corruption cases that intertwine political power and economic interests. He warned against senior officials serving the agendas of interest groups or influential networks, emphasizing that such behavior threatens both political integrity and healthy economic development.

Preventing improper ties between officials and business figures was highlighted as a key priority. Xi cautioned against the intrusion of capital into political decision-making and called for stronger legal frameworks to crack down on bribery and related offenses, noting that unchecked collusion could erode governance and distort the broader political ecosystem.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the Party has pursued sweeping measures to improve conduct, reinforce discipline, and combat corruption. These efforts, marked by unprecedented determination, have produced notable results. According to Xinhua News Agency, approximately 81,000 individuals have voluntarily turned themselves in to disciplinary and supervisory authorities over the past five years amid high-profile anti-corruption campaigns.

At the 20th CPC National Congress in October, Xi reflected on the unique pressures facing the world’s largest Marxist governing party. He emphasized the importance of constant vigilance and resolve in overcoming the challenges inherent in leading a large and complex organization, warning that maintaining public trust is essential for long-term governance.

The momentum has continued since the congress. Within little more than a month after its conclusion, over 10 officials suspected of serious disciplinary and legal violations had surrendered themselves to authorities.

During Monday’s session, Xi described strict Party self-governance as a strategic, long-range task with direct implications for national stability and the welfare of the people. He urged sustained progress toward the objective of creating conditions in which officials are deterred from corruption, lack the means to engage in it, and ultimately have no inclination to do so.

Political oversight, Xi said, must be strengthened to ensure that the policies and decisions adopted at the 20th CPC National Congress are fully and faithfully implemented. He also called for ongoing enforcement of the “eight-point decision on improving conduct,” first introduced in December 2012. The measures aim to curb formalism, bureaucratic excess, hedonism, and extravagance, while addressing the pursuit of privilege among officials.

To further enhance Party conduct, Xi advocated targeted and persistent action tailored to specific sectors, regions, and time periods. He noted that recurring and deeply rooted problems require sustained attention and firm solutions, with particular emphasis on combating formalism and bureaucratism.

Xi also highlighted the importance of enforcing Party discipline and urged officials to uphold the Party Constitution. While reaffirming the CPC’s unified leadership over anti-corruption efforts, he called on disciplinary inspection and supervision bodies to fully shoulder their responsibilities in what he described as a prolonged and arduous struggle.

The meeting was attended by members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, including Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, and Ding Xuexiang. Li Xi, also a Standing Committee member and head of the CCDI, chaired the session.