Tongfang Academy
Micro Party Class · Issue 258
Persistently uphold integrity, enforce discipline, and fight corruption.
“Theoretical cultivation is the core of the comprehensive quality of Party members and cadres. Theoretical maturity is the foundation for political maturity, and political steadfastness stems from theoretical clarity.” For Party members and cadres, fostering a fine academic ethos and strengthening theoretical training are both fundamental requirements for cultivating Party spirit and an inescapable political responsibility.
Tongfang Law Firm provides all its lawyers with learning opportunities in the form of micro-party classes, thereby enhancing their ideological and political awareness as well as their spirit of learning and inquiry. By establishing a long-term educational mechanism, the firm has created a new platform for self-education and self-improvement.
Comprehensively and strictly governing the Party is an ongoing journey, and the Party’s self-revolution is also an ongoing endeavor. In the report to the 20th National Congress of the Party, President Xi clearly called upon the People’s Armed Forces to “persistently uphold integrity, enforce discipline rigorously, and fight corruption relentlessly.” At the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, he once again emphasized that “upholding integrity, enforcing discipline rigorously, and fighting corruption vigorously” should serve as key approaches to advancing the Party’s self-revolution, thereby charting the course for deepening comprehensively and strictly governing the Party and the military. On this new journey, to persistently uphold integrity, enforce discipline rigorously, and fight corruption relentlessly, we must deeply grasp the new situation, new tasks, new characteristics, and new requirements. We must lead with outstanding conduct, ensure compliance through strict discipline, and remove obstacles by resolutely combating corruption, thus providing strong political guarantees for achieving the centenary goal of building a strong military on schedule and accelerating the transformation of the People’s Armed Forces into a world-class military.
Persist in addressing both internal and external issues, and continuously and relentlessly improve work styles.
Only a fine work style can forge a heroic military; a lax work style can bring down even the most invincible forces. This is a valuable lesson drawn from historical experience. Since the advent of the new era, the People’s Armed Forces have left clear marks wherever they’ve stepped and imprints wherever they’ve trod, upholding strict discipline and combating corruption with an unwavering stance, thereby providing a robust stylistic guarantee for advancing the cause of strengthening the military. As we embark on a new journey toward a stronger military, we must further intensify and consolidate作风建设 (work style development) as a fundamental and long-term task for the armed forces. We must persist in regular cleanups, eliminate blind spots, and thoroughly investigate underlying issues; vigorously address unhealthy tendencies and evil practices, and effectively promote a fresh and upright ethos.
Grasp the key priorities and target corrective measures precisely. When we aim our efforts at the right targets, success comes easily; but when our efforts are unfocused and aimless, success becomes elusive. For the entire Party, the “Four Winds” represent critical targets in strengthening Party conduct. At the Second Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, it was emphasized that we must continue to deepen implementation of the spirit of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulation and vigorously address the “Four Winds.” On this new journey ahead, we must seriously tackle hedonism and extravagance—practices that damage the Party’s image and draw strong complaints from the masses—and crack down swiftly and rigorously on any violations committed in defiance of discipline. We must place greater emphasis on addressing formalism and bureaucratic practices, treating them as top-priority tasks in strengthening Party conduct, and steadily push forward with thorough and effective rectification efforts. For the military, strengthening Party conduct must focus squarely on ensuring that our armed forces are capable of fighting and winning battles. We must adhere to the spirit of self-criticism and thoroughly address persistent, deep-rooted problems in war preparation and combat readiness, focusing particularly on resolving issues such as insincere training, unrealistic exercises, and dishonest examination practices. We must firmly establish the mindset of a combat-ready force and ensure that combat effectiveness standards are fully implemented.
Focus on establishing a regular and long-term approach to prevention and control. Problems in work style are persistent and tend to recur; therefore, strengthening work-style development hinges on making sustained, meticulous, and long-term efforts. We must accurately grasp the characteristics, patterns, and operational requirements of work-style development under the new circumstances, integrating immediate rectification with the establishment of lasting mechanisms, and truly cultivating good habits and achieving tangible results. We should carry forward the spirit of driving nails home—exerting unwavering perseverance like swallows building their nests, demonstrating tenacious endurance like ants gnawing at bones, and displaying the relentless determination of an old ox climbing a steep slope. We must hold fast to each critical point and tackle each issue one by one, resolutely preventing relapses, hidden mutations, and fatigue or war-weariness. We must ensure that we see things through to the end and achieve success in every endeavor. Adhering to a systematic perspective and adopting a holistic governance approach, we should skillfully employ the “full-cycle management” methodology, emphasizing all elements and all processes, seamlessly integrating strict “management,” precise “treatment,” and effective “prevention.” This will enhance the effectiveness of work-style governance, ensuring that corruption is eradicated, the atmosphere is clean, and society is peaceful and prosperous.
Grasp the principle of addressing both unhealthy tendencies and corruption in a coordinated manner. Unhealthy tendencies and corruption are two sides of the same coin, rooted in the same source. Unhealthy tendencies breed and conceal corruption, while corrupt practices fuel and exacerbate unhealthy tendencies—and can even give rise to new problems in work style. We must conduct in-depth research into the inherent patterns and characteristics of the intertwined nature of unhealthy tendencies and corruption, improve the mechanisms for jointly investigating and addressing them, and adopt a proactive approach by shifting the focus upstream. We need to identify precisely which unhealthy tendencies are most closely linked to corruption and most likely to evolve into corrupt behavior, and resolutely and strictly investigate and punish such cases. By continuously purifying the prevailing atmosphere, we can steadily shrink the space in which corruption can take root. On the one hand, we must adhere to the principle of "investigating corruption through unhealthy tendencies," preventing the practice of "covering up corruption with unhealthy tendencies." We should thoroughly uncover the underlying corrupt practices—such as soliciting favors and transferring interests—that lie behind unhealthy tendencies, and firmly sever the chain linking unhealthy tendencies to corruption. On the other hand, we must uphold the principle of "correcting unhealthy tendencies through combating corruption," meticulously examining and rigorously addressing work-style issues related to corruption, such as hedonism and extravagance, and striving to create a political environment characterized by integrity and high moral standards.
Adhere to a combination of firmness and flexibility, and persistently enforce strict discipline.
“Only when discipline is strict can we uphold the might of our armed forces; only by attaching great importance to orders can we set things right and restore order.” As we embark on a new journey toward strengthening our military, we must place disciplinary development in an even more prominent position, strictly enforce Party rules and discipline—especially political discipline and political norms—and use ironclad discipline to promote comprehensive and stringent governance within both the Party and the military, thereby consistently maintaining the military’s high degree of centralized unity and its purity and solidity.
Strengthen disciplinary education in a prominent and targeted manner. Taking the study and implementation of the newly revised "Regulations on Disciplinary Actions of the Communist Party of China" as an opportunity, intensify disciplinary education, earnestly carry out Party discipline study and education, and focus on addressing issues such as lack of attention to, ignorance of, and failure to master Party rules and discipline. Guide officers and soldiers to learn the discipline, understand the discipline, clearly recognize the discipline, and abide by the discipline, thereby further enhancing their awareness of discipline, strengthening self-discipline, and improving their ability to resist corruption. Adhere to studying the regulations thoroughly and accurately, combining individual self-study with centralized learning. Firmly grasp the core principles and specific requirements of the Party’s political discipline, organizational discipline, integrity discipline, mass discipline, work discipline, and lifestyle discipline, ensuring deep and comprehensive understanding that truly sinks in and resonates with the heart. Strengthen cautionary education by conducting in-depth analyses of typical cases of disciplinary violations, paying close attention to using real-life examples to educate those around us. Establish and improve a mechanism for cautionary education that uses cases to illustrate moral principles, discipline, laws, and responsibilities, guiding officers and soldiers to transform “lessons learned from what they’ve seen” into “deep-seated reverence,” thus consciously respecting, revering, safeguarding, and strictly adhering to discipline.
Firmly uphold the rigidity of discipline. Adhere to the principle of strictness first and maintain strict enforcement all the way through, continuously sending a strong signal that disciplinary enforcement will only become stricter as time goes on, ensuring that ironclad discipline “grows teeth” and exerts its full force. Strengthen supervision, disciplinary enforcement, and accountability; hold those who fail to abide by discipline, pay lip service while acting otherwise, or knowingly violate rules accountable. For any violation of Party discipline discovered, investigate and deal with it promptly, reinforcing the rigid constraints of discipline. Pay close attention to precise disciplinary enforcement, carefully referring to relevant regulations, remaining impartial, objective, and fair, so that officers and soldiers consistently maintain rigorous ideological training, stringent work standards, disciplined conduct, and strict self-discipline.
Accurately apply the “four forms.” Uphold the principle that discipline is stricter than law and takes precedence over law, placing discipline and rules at the forefront. Deepen the application of the “four forms” of supervision and disciplinary enforcement, with particular emphasis on making good use of the “first form.” Guided by the principles of learning from past mistakes to prevent future ones and treating illness to save the patient, comprehensively leverage the effectiveness of punishment and deterrence, disciplinary correction and rescue, and educational warning. In daily management and oversight, focus on early detection and addressing minor issues—promptly issuing reminders when signs emerge and immediately taking action upon violations. Address problems early and at their smallest scale, nipping them in the bud before they escalate. At the same time, pay close attention to integrating these efforts with the “three distinctions,” adhering to a combination of strict management and genuine care, and giving equal weight to incentives and constraints. Differentiate clearly between deliberate violations and unintentional errors, reckless breaches and mistakes made during reform, intentional self-serving behavior and errors committed in the course of official duties, and handle each case appropriately. Ensure early detection and timely reminders; genuinely tolerate and dare to correct mistakes; communicate policies and offer viable solutions. Thus, establish clear policy guidance that makes those who remain honest and upright feel proud and gratified, empowers those who take responsibility and act pragmatically to work with confidence, offers hope and a way forward to those who repent and correct their mistakes, and ensures that those stubbornly resistant to change face severe consequences, thereby fostering a positive atmosphere conducive to getting things done and achieving success.
Adhere to addressing both the symptoms and root causes, and unswervingly fight against corruption.
The military is an institution that wields the gun; corruption has no place within the Party—and certainly not within our military. Since the advent of the new era, our armed forces have achieved an overwhelming victory in the fight against corruption and have fully consolidated these gains. Yet, we are far from having reached the point of complete success. As the old saying goes, “We resent the young pine trees not growing tall enough, yet we must cut down ten thousand stalks of wicked bamboo.” As we embark on a new journey to strengthen our military, facing a situation that remains severe and complex, we cannot afford to relax our efforts in the fight against corruption for even a moment. We must unswervingly uphold the principle of strictness, persistently and precisely exerting our efforts with the unwavering determination of those who remain ever on the road, and resolutely win the tough and protracted battle against corruption.
Continue to intensify efforts to ensure that no one dares to engage in corruption. Uphold the principles of zero tolerance, full coverage, and no safe havens; maintain a strong stance of severe deterrence, high-pressure enforcement, and long-term deterrence. Focus on key issues, critical areas, and priority targets, and step up efforts to investigate and punish corrupt practices. For those who remain defiant and show no sign of curbing their misconduct, impose strict penalties without any leniency, resolutely curb new cases from emerging and eliminate existing ones. For corrupt officials whose actions intertwine political and economic issues, thoroughly investigate criminal networks, sever ties of collusion, and continuously purify the political environment and development landscape. For new forms of corruption and hidden corruption, promptly detect them, take proactive measures, and crack down decisively. For those who deliberately “hunt” and ensnare cadres through illicit means, adhere to the principle of investigating both bribery and corruption, and make every effort to break the chains of interest transmission. In particular, we must carry out targeted rectifications in depth, addressing corruption that undermines combat capability building, key industries and sectors, areas where military and civilian spheres overlap, as well as corruption and unhealthy tendencies around officers and soldiers themselves, and ensure comprehensive implementation of corrective measures.
Deepen and expand efforts to ensure that corruption cannot take place. Move the anti-corruption front line forward, deepen governance at the source, strengthen reforms and institutional development of oversight mechanisms in key areas, and improve the institutional framework for preventing and curbing the emergence and spread of corruption. Effectively constrain and supervise power, and systematically tighten the institutional “cage” covering such aspects as regulating and exercising power, risk early warning, and tracing accountability. Strengthen efforts to promote reform and governance through specific cases, intensify thematic analyses of typical problems and concentrated reviews of similar cases, and refine the mechanisms for proposing, supervising, providing feedback on, and following up on disciplinary inspection and supervision recommendations—ensuring that each case investigated leads to targeted governance in the relevant area and purifies the local environment. Deepen joint oversight within the military, promote seamless coordination among disciplinary inspection and supervision, inspection and巡察 oversight, and audit oversight, and foster information sharing, joint problem-solving, and shared outcomes. Advance integrated oversight between the military and local authorities, establish a regular mechanism for integrated oversight, and enhance the overall effectiveness of joint supervision and governance. Firmly enforce the chain of responsibility, make good use of accountability tools, ensure that both principal and supervisory responsibilities are consistently implemented throughout the entire process, reinforce the integrity management responsibilities of industry departments, and build a rigorous system of work responsibilities—so that holding one person accountable serves as a warning to many and promotes positive change across an entire region.
Consolidate and enhance efforts to ensure that officials “do not desire corruption.” Place greater emphasis on addressing the root causes of corruption, strengthening the foundation and nurturing the essence, and bolstering the building of a culture of integrity for the new era. Cultivate a new ethos of the times characterized by truth-seeking pragmatism and united, hardworking spirit. Educate and guide officers and soldiers to firmly keep in mind the “three imperatives” and consciously resist corruption from the bottom of their hearts. Make good use of red resources, fully leveraging the roles of revolutionary museums, memorial halls, Party history museums, and various educational bases for Party conduct and integrity building. Draw spiritual strength from the Party’s magnificent journey of struggle and the military’s glorious and profound combat history, ensuring that the red gene is passed down from generation to generation. Adhere to both purging the corrupt and promoting the upright, deeply publicizing concepts and exemplary models of integrity, and urging relevant sectors and departments to establish clear, effective codes of professional ethics and conduct. Use values, mindsets, and behaviors marked by honesty and integrity to inspire and influence officers and soldiers, fostering a positive atmosphere that honors integrity and rejects corruption. Solidly build a family-based defense line against corruption and promote integrity; urge officers and soldiers to develop a conscious awareness and proactive behavior in cultivating personal integrity and maintaining clean families. Guide family members to serve as “supportive partners in integrity,” using family ethos development to bolster Party conduct and integrity building.
Source | People's Daily Online, Official Website for Party History Study and Education
Prev:
Tongfang Academy Micro-Party Class, Issue 259: Let the Red Gene Be Passed Down Through Generations
Next:
Tongfang Academy Micro-Party Class, Issue 257: Taking the Strengthening of Organizational Resilience and the Building of a High-Caliber Team as Key Focus Areas
Past Issues: 
