Editorial Department of "Qiushi" Journal: The Eight-Point Regulation: From Establishing Credibility to Shaping Social Customs
The Eight-Point Regulations, a specialized term marking the New Era, have increasingly penetrated the hearts of the Party and the people, profoundly changing our Party and changing China in the New Era. Today, whether analyzing the reasons for the "governance of the Communist Party of China" or exploring the mysteries behind the "governance of China," the Eight-Point Regulations serve as an important point of entry and observation.
How has an internal Party regulation of a mere 600-odd characters maintained such powerful vitality? Why has its effectiveness been so remarkable? Ultimately, it is because General Secretary Xi Jinping personally planned, deployed, and promoted it. He has delivered a series of important discourses and put forward a series of explicit requirements, leading the entire Party to persevere in implementing the spirit of the central Eight-Point Regulations with a strong sense of historical responsibility and immense strategic resolve. With a spirit of thorough self-revolution, he has cleared away stubborn taints and eliminated chronic maladies, tempering a clean and upright atmosphere and gaining the genuine trust and sincere support of the masses.
In today's world, the changes unseen in a century [1] are accelerating, and our country is in a critical period for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The greater the risks, the more numerous the challenges, and the heavier the tasks, the more we must strengthen the building of the Party's conduct (作风), and the more we must polish the "golden business card" of the central Eight-Point Regulations to make it shine brighter. Currently, the whole Party is carrying out a study and education campaign on the in-depth implementation of the spirit of the central Eight-Point Regulations. This is an important measure to consolidate and deepen the achievements of the thematic education and the study and education on Party discipline, and to push forward the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party in depth. It is an inevitable requirement for maintaining close ties between the Party and the masses and between officials and the masses, and for consolidating the Party's governing foundation; it is a powerful guarantee for promoting Chinese-path modernization. The article "Persevere in Implementing the Spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations and Leading Social and Folk Customs with Excellent Party Conduct" collects a series of important discourses by General Secretary Xi Jinping between December 2012 and March 2025 on the in-depth implementation of the spirit of the central Eight-Point Regulations and the strengthening of the Party's conduct. It profoundly answers major questions such as why the central Eight-Point Regulations were formulated, how to view them, and how to persevere in their implementation, providing important guidance for conducting the study and education well. We must deeply study and comprehend the spirit of this important article by the General Secretary, as well as his important discourses on strengthening the building of the Party's conduct and the spirit of the central Eight-Point Regulations and their implementation rules. We must promote the study and education to go deeper and become more substantive, providing a strong guarantee of conduct for the cause of comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization.
Why were the central Eight-Point Regulations formulated?
On December 4, 2012, less than a month after the conclusion of the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping presided over a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. The meeting reviewed and approved the "Eight-Point Regulations of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee on Improving Work Conduct and Maintaining Close Ties with the Masses." It established rules in eight areas, including improving investigation and research, marking the start of a new journey for the Communist Party of China to "clear the turbid and summon the clear" [2] in its conduct building.
Formulating the central Eight-Point Regulations was a major measure for our Party to strengthen conduct building. The issue of conduct has always been a major political issue for a governing party’s self-construction. Throughout history and across the world, there are countless examples of "the people perishing and the government collapsing" [3] due to the corruption of the ruling group's conduct. Our Party has always attached high importance to strengthening conduct building, using excellent conduct to powerfully guarantee that the causes of revolution, construction, and reform achieved one victory after another. Entering the New Era, General Secretary Xi Jinping has viewed the Party's conduct building from the strategic height of "deciding the success or failure of the cause of the Party and the state" and "bearing on whether our Party can govern for the long term and fulfill its governing mission." He alerted the whole Party to strengthen conduct building with the deafening and weighty words "life or death, survival or ruin" (生死存亡). He warned the whole Party that "if we do not pay attention to conduct building and allow undesirable tendencies to erode the Party’s body, there is a danger of losing the support of the people and losing political power," and "if the problem of conduct is not resolved well, there may be a moment like 'The Hegemon King Bids Farewell to His Concubine' [4]." With a deep sense of historical anxiety and a strong commitment to his mission, the General Secretary set an example by leading the implementation of the central Eight-Point Regulations, leading the whole Party to take a key step in changing conduct and establishing new trends in the New Era.
Formulating the central Eight-Point Regulations was an urgent need to solve prominent problems within the Party. "Under the new situation, our Party faces many severe challenges, and there are many urgent problems to be solved within the Party." On November 15, 2012, when the Standing Committee members of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee met with Chinese and foreign journalists, General Secretary Xi Jinping spoke bluntly, listing and analyzing various problems and malpractices existing within the Party at that time. For a period before the 18th CPC National Congress, because the management and governance of the Party were for a time lax and soft, the political faith of some Party members and officials wavered. The atmosphere for selecting and appointing personnel was improper in some places and departments, and the "Four Winds"—formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance—ran rampant. In particular, the practice of excessive wining and dining among some leading officials drew significant public grievance. The problem of conduct had reached a point where it had to be addressed. The General Secretary solemnly pointed out that "the whole Party must be alert," and "persist in the Party managing the Party and strictly governing the Party, effectively solving the prominent problems existing within ourselves." Managing and governing the Party is a heavy task; where should one begin? The Party Central Committee profoundly realized that the "Four Winds" violate our Party's nature and purpose, are deeply detested by the masses, and seriously damage the Party's image. Various problems within the Party are related to the "Four Winds." If the problem of the "Four Winds" is solved well, better conditions will be created for solving other problems within the Party. He emphasized that the "Four Winds" must be addressed as the primary contradiction and the primary aspect of the contradiction [5]. Proceeding from reality and adhering to a problem-oriented approach, the Party Central Committee persisted in solving whatever problems existed and prioritizing the rectification of the most prominent ones. The formulation and introduction of the Eight-Point Regulations solved the problem of "a tiger trying to eat the sky without knowing where to bite" [6]—it solved the questions of what to grasp and how to grasp conduct building under the new situation. It is precisely because it seized on the issue where "pulling one hair moves the whole body" [7] that the Eight-Point Regulations could drive overall innovation through a key breakthrough.
Formulating and implementing the central Eight-Point Regulations was the Party's act of "moving the pole to establish trust" [8] in the New Era. What is said must be done, and what is promised must be fulfilled; only in this way can the hearts of the people be won and strength be gathered. In the past, undesirable phenomena such as "dozens of documents cannot control a single mouth" seriously damaged the Party's prestige. In the New Era, is the Party serious about its work? Can it get things done? Can the system for preventing the "Four Winds" be established? Is it useful, or is it merely a "straw man" [9]? On one important occasion after another, General Secretary Xi Jinping continuously responded to everyone's concerns. In December 2012, at the Political Bureau meeting reviewing the central Eight-Point Regulations, the General Secretary explicitly pointed out that the words "trial implementation" were not added "precisely to show a resolute attitude, to show that this regulation is rigid," emphasizing that "what we say is not in vain; what is said must be done, and the contents written in the document must be implemented one by one." In September 2013, while participating in a special democratic life meeting of the Standing Committee of the Hebei Provincial Party Committee, the General Secretary further emphasized that grasping the implementation of the central Eight-Point Regulations may seem like a small matter, but it reflects a kind of spirit: "If we cannot even grasp or persist in the central Eight-Point Regulations, what use is there in making eighteen or twenty-eight more regulations?" In March 2014, while participating in the deliberation of the Shanghai delegation at the Second Session of the 12th National People's Congress, the General Secretary declared his clear attitude: "First, we must continue to grasp this step well to play the role of 'moving the pole to establish trust'... Everyone must believe that the Central Committee will absolutely grasp this year after year." In January 2023, ten years after the introduction of the central Eight-Point Regulations, the General Secretary reminded again that the central Eight-Point Regulations must be grasped unremittingly and persisted in over the long term (久久为功): "If ten years are not enough, then twenty years; if twenty years are not enough, then thirty years, until it truly transforms customs and becomes a habit (化风成俗), leading social and folk customs with excellent Party conduct." It is precisely because the General Secretary and the Party Central Committee insisted that "words must be followed by deeds and deeds must bear fruit," grasping the implementation of the central Eight-Point Regulations with firm determination and tenacious will, that they fulfilled their solemn promise to the people and won the heartfelt trust and support of the masses through practical actions.
Conduct building serves the overall work of the Party and must reflect the new requirements for conduct brought by the new situation and new tasks facing the Party. In the study and education for the in-depth implementation of the spirit of the central Eight-Point Regulations, we must profoundly understand the strategic considerations of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core in using the central Eight-Point Regulations to break ground and solve the problem. We must move from the height of keeping the "two overall situations" [10] in mind and achieving the Party's central tasks to profoundly grasp the great significance of this study and education, further enhancing the sense of responsibility and urgency, and devoting ourselves to the cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation with excellent conduct.
How to view the central Eight-Point Regulations?
With the placement of one piece—the Eight-Point Regulations—the entire chessboard of conduct building has come alive. The formulation and implementation of the central Eight-Point Regulations, as the "first move" in comprehensively and strictly governing the Party in the New Era, used a "small incision" to leverage a "big change." The century-old Party has been reborn through revolutionary forging, radiating new vitality and new energy, driving social and folk customs to continue improving, and gathering powerful positive energy for the development of the cause of the Party and the state.
[Caption: Discipline inspection and supervision organs across the country have focused on the invisible and mutated forms of illegal wining and dining, conducting special supervisory inspections of key locations such as hotels, restaurants, and internal canteens to resolutely prevent a resurgence of the unhealthy trend of illegal wining and dining. The photo shows staff from the Tongliang District Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision and the District Market Supervision Bureau in Chongqing Municipality learning about the situation at a restaurant in their jurisdiction on April 18, 2025. Photo provided by the website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision; Photography by Ma Dongxiao.]
The central Eight-Point Regulations embody the essential requirement of conduct building: Party spirit (党性). Conduct reflects image and quality, and it embodies Party spirit. If Party spirit is strong, the implementation of the central Eight-Point Regulations will be more resolute and powerful. General Secretary Xi Jinping used the metaphor of "two rulers," pointing out that "on the issue of conduct, the decisive factor is Party spirit. The fundamental ruler for measuring the strength of Party spirit is the two words: 'public' (公) and 'private' (私)"; and "whether the problem of conduct can be resolved is a very important ruler for measuring faith in Marxism, belief in socialism and communism, and loyalty to the Party and the people." This profoundly clarifies the dialectical relationship between conduct issues and Party spirit issues, and scientifically points out the ideological root of conduct problems and the fundamental way to solve them. Many conduct problems arise because the relationship between the public and the private has not been properly balanced. A few meals, a few bottles of wine, or a few gift cards may seem like small matters or minor details, but they all involve the major principle of public vs. private and contain the "great logic" of Party spirit. The General Secretary emphasized that improving conduct "requires drawing inferences about other cases from one instance (举一反三), seeing Party spirit through conduct, and solving Party spirit problems on the basis of solving conduct problems." From explicitly stipulating the boundaries for the use of public funds and public power and strengthening the Party spirit principle of "distinguishing between public and private" for Party members and officials, to requiring Party members and officials to link their daily behavior with their ideals and beliefs and strengthen their Party spirit cultivation—the Party Central Committee's focus on the central Eight-Point Regulations has never been simply about treating the symptoms or merely eliminating undesirable phenomena. Rather, it has viewed the fortification of the foundation of Party spirit as a key focus, solving the "master switch" (总开关) problem of worldviews, outlooks on life, and values, and polishing the political character of Communists with political firmness and theoretical clarity.
The central Eight-Point Regulations seize upon the core of conduct building: the relationship between the Party and the masses. The Party's greatest political advantage is its close ties with the masses, while the greatest danger after coming to power is being divorced from the masses. Only by seizing the core issue of maintaining "flesh-and-blood ties" with the masses, proceeding from the interests of the masses, and resolutely preventing and correcting whatever the masses oppose and hate, can we win the trust and support of the people and continuously nourish the deep pulse of affection between the Party and the masses. This is the starting point and the ultimate goal of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core in its vigorous implementation of the central Eight-Point Regulations. In terms of content, every item of the central Eight-Point Regulations points to the concerns of the masses: what is "broken" (破) are the unhealthy tendencies that the masses hate most and react to most strongly; what is "established" (立) is the clean and upright atmosphere that the masses eagerly anticipate and support with both hands. In terms of effect, whether it is curbing "waste on the tip of the tongue" (extravagant dining), "corruption on wheels" (misuse of official vehicles), or "unhealthy trends in private clubs," or rectifying prominent problems of formalism and bureaucratism, all of these align with the expectations and requirements of the masses. At the beginning of the formulation of the central Eight-Point Regulations, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out with deep meaning: "If we are a bit less comfortable and a bit less at ease, the comfort and satisfaction of the common people will be a bit higher, and their feelings toward us will be a bit better." The facts have proven exactly that. After more than ten years of unremitting effort, the central Eight-Point Regulations have allowed the masses to see tangible results and changes. Our Party has won wide praise from the masses through practical actions to relieve the people's worries, soothe their grievances, and warm their hearts, greatly consolidating the Party's governing foundation.
The Central Eight-Point Regulations have stimulated the vitality and drive of Party members and cadres for conducting official business and initiating enterprises. Rules serve a restrictive function, and the formulation and implementation of the Central Eight-Point Regulations must adhere to requirements of strictness. However, strictness is not intended to stifle; rather, it seeks to create a positive, healthy political ecosystem and a favorable environment conducive to action and entrepreneurship by clarifying direction, establishing rules, rectifying the prevailing atmosphere, and strengthening immunity. This better stimulates the proactivity, initiative, and creativity of the vast ranks of Party members and cadres. In December 2024, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized at a Democratic Life Meeting [11] of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee: "The Party's discipline possesses both an educational and restrictive function, as well as a protective and incentive role," and "discipline both defines the bottom lines and boundaries that must not be touched, and provides a yardstick of action for Party members and cadres to work cleanly and boldly." This profoundly reveals the logic of internal unity between Party discipline and conducting official business. Party discipline and taking action have never been an "either-or" choice, but rather a "unified whole" in which they promote and complement each other. By obeying rules and observing discipline, one gains full freedom and broad space for action and entrepreneurship. In the New Era, the Party Central Committee began with the Central Eight-Point Regulations to guide Party members and cadres in establishing a correct outlook on performance, strengthening care and positive incentives, and promoting precise accountability. This has effectively promoted the elevation of the mental state, quality, and capability of Party members and cadres, fully activating the spirit of responsibility and action. It has injected powerful momentum into leading the Great Social Revolution through the Party’s self-revolution, and leading the Governance of China through the Governance of the Communist Party of China.
The deeper the understanding, the more powerful the practice. In the study and education for the in-depth implementation of the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations, we must comprehensively and accurately view and grasp its rich connotations, spiritual essence, and practical requirements. We must profoundly recognize that the new winds and upright atmosphere [12] brought by the Central Eight-Point Regulations are both an important component and a leading factor of the great changes in the New Era, thereby continuously consolidating the ideological foundation for consciously implementing the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations.
How are we to persevere in implementing the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations?
Both history and reality tell us that the string of conduct building must not be slackened; once it slackens, problems may emerge, and over time, major problems may occur. Conduct building is always on the road; implementing the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations is a battle of attrition and a protracted war. In March of this year, during inspection tours in Guizhou and Yunnan, General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out: "In recent years, the Eight-Point Regulations have indeed driven fundamental changes; the atmosphere has been refreshed, and most of the phenomena that were once deeply entrenched and difficult to reverse have vanished. At the same time, we must see that slackening has occurred in some places, blind spots and dead corners still exist in some aspects, and certain unhealthy tendencies have rebounded. It is like driving a nail [13]—strike it a few more times, persist over the long term, and transform the atmosphere into custom." The General Secretary fully affirmed the remarkable results achieved in the in-depth implementation of the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations in the New Era, perceptively pointed out the prominent problems currently existing in conduct building, and put forward clear requirements for further in-depth implementation, demonstrating the constancy and determination to carry conduct building through to the end. Facing new situations and new tasks, we must take the study and education of the in-depth implementation of the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations throughout the whole Party as an opportunity to persevere in implementing the spirit, integrally promoting "learning, inspecting, and rectifying" to ensure quality in learning, strength in inspection, and effectiveness in rectification, thereby driving the Party's conduct building toward continuous new achievements.
Adhere to leading by example from the top down. Every word and deed of the "key minority" [14] serves as a bellwether for the whole Party and society. If leading cadres set an example and take the lead in breaking down perverse trends and evil atmospheres, unhealthy tendencies will be transformed quickly and rectified thoroughly; if leading cadres' conduct is below par or not toughened enough, the Party's style and social atmosphere cannot be good. At the beginning of the formulation and implementation of the Central Eight-Point Regulations, General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly pointed out: "Leading cadres at all levels must set an example and lead the way; what is said must be done, and what is promised must be fulfilled. Comrades of the Central Political Bureau will start with me." For over a decade, the General Secretary has adhered to the strictest requirements, reflecting the improvement of work style and close contact with the masses in all aspects of governing the country, integrating thrift and the pursuit of practical results throughout the entire process of domestic inspections and foreign visits. He has set a benchmark and example for the whole Party through personal teaching and by issuing orders through action, playing a decisive role in the formulation and implementation of the Central Eight-Point Regulations. "Without the General Secretary, this could not have been done"—this is the high degree of consensus among the vast ranks of Party members, cadres, and the masses. Under the General Secretary’s demonstration and leadership, leading cadres at all levels have been strict with themselves, strictly responsible for their duties, and strict in managing their jurisdictions, forming a powerful momentum of grasping conduct building from the top down. A very important lesson from the remarkable results achieved in implementing the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations over these years is the adherence to a top-down approach and leading by example. In the report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC, the General Secretary pointed out: "Persevere in implementing the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations, seize the ‘key minority’ to lead by example, continue to deepen the rectification of the ‘Four Winds,’ focus on rectifying formalism and bureaucratism, and resolutely break down privileged thinking and privileged behavior." This is both a condensed summary of the practical experience of implementing the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations and a practical requirement that must be upheld over the long term. Leading cadres at all levels must align themselves with the Party Central Committee, involve themselves personally, take the lead in doing and grasping, and use the "key minority" to demonstrate and drive the "vast majority," unswervingly putting all requirements of conduct building into practice.
In-depth promotion of the simultaneous investigation and treatment of conduct issues and corruption. Unhealthy tendencies and corruption are the exterior and interior of each other; they share the same roots and origin. Unhealthy tendencies breed and hide corruption, while corrupt behavior encourages and exacerbates unhealthy tendencies, even giving rise to new conduct problems. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out the need to persist in the simultaneous investigation and treatment of conduct issues and corruption, emphasizing the "integration of rectifying conduct, enforcing discipline, and fighting corruption, using ‘simultaneous investigation’ to severely punish the intertwining of conduct issues and corruption, and using ‘simultaneous treatment’ to eradicate the common roots of conduct issues and corruption." The General Secretary’s important expositions clarify the internal connection between conduct and corruption and point out the methods and paths for severely punishing their intertwinement. This requires us to establish holistic thinking, enhance systematic concepts, and integrally promote the mechanisms of "not daring to be corrupt, not being able to be corrupt, and not wanting to be corrupt." We must use excellent conduct as a guide, strict discipline as a safeguard, and the punishment of corruption as a means to clear obstacles, promoting a work pattern of comprehensive governance and treating both symptoms and root causes. In practice, we must both "investigate corruption through conduct," deeply uncovering and investigating corruption problems such as seeking favors, interest transfers, and power-money transactions hidden behind conduct issues, and severely investigating people and matters involving "Four Winds" problems that violate discipline in the face of prohibitions or take invisible and mutated forms, resolutely preventing "covering corruption with conduct." At the same time, we must "rectify conduct through corruption," making "Four Winds" problems a "must-ask and must-verify item" in case investigations, probing deeply into the roots of conduct, resolutely cutting the chain of intertwining conduct issues and corruption, and resolutely eradicating the soil and conditions for the breeding of corruption.
Persist over the long term to achieve lasting results, and establish regulations and systems. Laws and regulations possess the characteristics of being fundamental, holistic, stable, and long-term; the improvement of conduct must seek long-term effects from institutional building. A key experience of the remarkable results achieved in comprehensively and strictly governing the Party in the New Era is the adherence to institutional Party governance and governing the Party according to regulations. When presiding over the Central Political Bureau meeting to deliberate on the Eight-Point Regulations, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out straight to the point that "the new central leadership collective must set rules," and positioned the Central Eight-Point Regulations as "very important rules." The Central Eight-Point Regulations focus on the macro level and exert force at the micro level; they strike at the heart of issues and are pragmatic and effective. After the introduction of the Central Eight-Point Regulations, regulations such as the Regulations on Practicing Thrift and Opposing Waste in Party and Government Organs and the Certain Provisions on Rectifying Formalism to Reduce Burdens at the Grassroots were formulated and linked at every level. At the same time, whether in the formulation or revision of the Norms of Political Life within the Party under the New Situation, the Code of Integrity and Self-Discipline, or the Regulations on Disciplinary Actions of the CPC, the requirements of the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations have been incorporated. The institutional cage for conduct building is being tied ever tighter, checked ever more closely, and reinforced ever more firmly. To make the "Iron Eight Points" of the Eight-Point Regulations exert lasting power and prestige, they must be safeguarded by more scientific systems and stricter rules. We must adhere to the spirit of reform and strict standards in managing and governing the Party, integrate institutional building throughout the entire process of conduct building, and focus on both establishing systems and ensuring njihov implementation, using institutional mechanisms to solidify the achievements of conduct building and promote its normalization and long-term efficacy.
The Eight-Point Regulations have profoundly changed China and will continue to do so. On the new journey, with the whole Party united more closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, always regarding the Central Eight-Point Regulations as the iron rule and hard benchmark for managing and governing the Party, persevering in implementing its spirit, and using excellent conduct to build consensus and initiate entrepreneurship, we will surely be able to continuously push forward the grand cause of Chinese-path modernization.
Online Editor: Tongxin Source: Qiushi, 2025, No. 10