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Электронное приложение к журналу «
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Author : L. Smirnova
Lecturer/Foreign Expert, Xiamen University, People's Republic of China, Expert, Russian International
Affairs Council
THE QUESTION OF POLITICAL REFORM in China in the schol-
arly literature and newspaper reports often comes down to a dilemma:
either China will follow the path of post-Soviet-type democratization,
or it will remain committed to the old postulates of communist devel-
opment. However, the experience of state-led efforts to reform China
has proved more than once that China seeks its own path to political
modernization, not confined to these two extremes.
In the political field, China has already achieved progress unknown to
the late period of the Soviet Union: intra-party rotation of leaders
every 10 years to avoid political stagnation, open immigration and em-
igration policies, freedom, though restrained, of political discourse,
and diversity of views in mass media - all these changes deserve thor-
ough attention and study.
China's leadership is distinguished primarily by its pragmatism. If the
ultimate goal is to retain political power in the hands of the CPC, then the methods for achieving it must be realistic.
So what is the link between anti-corruption fight and political reform? The direct use of the term "political reform" to a
certain extent remains taboo in China.
The use of the wording "anti-corruption struggle" makes it possible to talk about political reform, while avoiding both the
linking to the ghost of the former USSR and Westernizers' pressure for urgent introduction of a multi-party system. However,
one should not regard China's thumbs-down on immediate Western-style reform as evidence of its adherence to the classic
communist system. The PRC is a far cry from North Korea.
The central and local discipline inspection commissions have played a key role in the investigation of corruption. As per the
Regulations, if there is a suspicion of corruption, the CPC CCDI is empowered "to require relevant persons to show up at a
designated time and place of inquiry and clarify the issue in question" (Article 28, section 3 of Regulations).11 This practice
has received the name of "dual designation"
In order to give greater clarity regarding the status of party documents from the point of view of the theory of sources of
law, let us note that a similar situation had existed in the former Soviet Union.
Nevertheless, it is obvious that the CPC currently faces a difficult dilemma. As acknowledged by Chinese leaders themselves,
the party's future depends on its success in the struggle against corruption. The methodology of this struggle at this point
rests on the traditional methods applied by the CPC CCDI. The view is that these methods based on intimidation are certainly
effective. However, it is also true that the methods, especially the practice of shuanggui, are in a contradiction with the prin-
ciples of the rule of law, and do not exactly correspond to the modern, open and progressive image that today's China is
trying to project in the world.
LATELY, thanks to Internet whistleblowers, instances of revelation of corruption have become more frequent in China.
The highest ranking of the officials who have fallen under investigation after disclosures on the Internet was Liu Tienan, the
former deputy chairman of China's National Development and Reform Commission.25 The criminal probe against him was
the result of the activity of Chinese journalist Luo Changping, deputy editor of Caijing business magazine, who laid out the
information about Liu Tienan's wrongdoings in his microblog.26
Official Chinese media are generally positive about Internet whistle-blowers. The Chinese authorities respond attentively to
their published reports. The fact that the reports have repeatedly sparked formal investigations is testimony to this.
Anti-corruption efforts by Chinese Internet users help reduce societal tensions in conditions when other remedies still seem
unpalatable to the CPC. Indeed, demands for rough treatment of corrupt public servants come directly from the Chinese
population.
All processes indicate that China is seeking to avoid dilemmas between the transition of the post-Soviet type, on the one
hand, and the old postulates of communist development, on the other hand. China wants to find its own unique path of
gradual political modernization, like its distinctive path to gradual economic reform.
Political Reform and the Fight Against Corruption in the PRC