CPC sets timetable for anti-corruption system

BEIJING - The Communist Party of China (CPC) will complete its new plan for disciplinary inspection reform by 2017, establishing a practical and effective anti-graft system.

Special: China Cracks Down on Graft

The plan was announced at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Monday, just as four formerly high-ranking officials were expelled from the Party, including Xu Caihou, former vice chairman of the Central Military Commission.

The reform will focus on tightening checks and supervision of leaders, Huang Shuxian, minister of supervision, told Xinhua on Thursday.

A dual leadership scheme will grant more power to discipline inspection agencies, Huang said. Local discipline inspection agencies will report not only to the CPC, but to superior inspection agencies when investigating cases.

The Party will also sharpen the efficiency of inspectors dispatched to discover malpractice and harmful work styles in provincial governments, state-owned enterprises and public institutions. Last year, 10 teams of inspectors made 20 visits and came back with information that helped bring down a number of corrupt officials. More inspection agencies at the central level and new laws and regulations concerning corruption will be announced soon.

According to the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), around 30 officials at provincial and ministerial level or higher have been investigated since November 2012, among them were two members of the CPC Central Committee and two alternate members. In the first five months of the year, 62,953 officials were punished, up 34.7 percent on the same period last year.

"Decentralized anti-graft agencies impede the fight against corruption, often resulting in failure of major cases," Huang said: "To solve the problem, reform and institutional innovation are a must."

In March, the CCDI and the Ministry of Supervision (MOS) established three new offices to handle inspections and oversight of discipline officers. Despite the new offices, the CCDI and the MOS have keep the organization's size unchanged through streamlining and integrating functions.

"Like all other reforms, disciplinary inspection reform is a gradual process and needs solid step-by step-efforts," said Xin Ming of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee.