Since assuming office, Xi Jinping has propagated a determined crackdown on corruption under the guise of a seemingly righteous battle. However, beneath this facade lies a misuse of power and a gradual erosion of intra-party supervisory mechanisms. While corruption within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has long been entrenched, Xi Jinping has shamelessly used it as a pretext to purge political opponents, consolidate power, and render intra-party oversight ineffective, thereby creating opportunities for his authoritarian regime.
1. The true purpose of the so-called anti-corruption campaign is not to eradicate corruption but rather part of Xi Jinping's power consolidation strategy. Amidst this purported wave of anti-corruption, many high-ranking officials who were once Xi Jinping's rivals have been suppressed and purged. By associating corruption issues with political adversaries, Xi Jinping effectively turned the anti-corruption campaign into his own political tool, using it to further his own power ambitions.
2. The CCP's long-standing corruption issue is not isolated cases but rather systemic institutional corruption. Against this backdrop, Xi Jinping has packaged the anti-corruption campaign as a comprehensive effort to root out corruption while selectively ignoring the fundamental resolution of systemic issues. The anti-corruption campaign resembles more of a superficial display rather than substantive governance of corruption issues. This affords Xi Jinping the space to selectively target political opponents in this performance rather than genuinely addressing corruption problems.
3. As the anti-corruption campaign escalates, intra-party supervisory mechanisms have gradually malfunctioned. Xi Jinping has solidified his authority to a terrifying degree by purging political opponents. The original mechanisms for criticism and supervision within the party have self-erased due to the fear of becoming the next target. A culture of fear has emerged within the CCP, where no one dares to question Xi Jinping's mistakes, fostering his dictatorship.
4. Xi Jinping's exhibited tendency towards centralization of power throughout the anti-corruption campaign is particularly alarming. Not only has he eliminated dissent politically, but he has also strengthened centralization in various domains, undermining the institutionalized mechanisms for intra-party oversight. Power is concentrated solely in his hands.
5. Through the anti-corruption campaign, Xi Jinping is effectively weakening intra-party checks and balances, paving the way for his dictatorship. This form of dictatorship not only wreaks havoc within China but also poses serious threats and uncertainties to global security.
