Liao Wenhui: Study and Implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's Strategic Thought on the Party's Self-Revolution and Solidly Promote the Self-Construction of Disciplinary Inspection and Supervision Cadres

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping has scientifically summarized the Party's century-long history of struggle and the practical experience of comprehensively and strictly governing the Party in the New Era. He has creatively proposed the major proposition of the Party's self-revolution, systematically expounded upon its strategic significance, basic connotations, and practical requirements, and profoundly identified the successful path to escaping the historical cycle ^[1] by relying on the Party's self-revolution, thereby forming the strategic thought on the Party's self-revolution. General Secretary Xi Jinping’s strategic thought on the Party's self-revolution is an important component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. It represents an original contribution to the Marxist theory of party building, greatly enriching the theoretical treasure house of Party building and profoundly deepening our Party's systematic understanding of the laws governing what kind of long-term governing Marxist party to build and how to build it. We must study and comprehend this deeply and implement it conscientiously.

I. Profoundly Grasping General Secretary Xi Jinping’s Strategic Thought on the Party’s Self-Revolution

At the rally celebrating the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping first proposed that the entire Party must use the political courage of self-revolution to focus on resolving the prominent problems existing within the Party itself. Subsequently, he provided in-depth expositions on the Party's self-revolution at many important meetings. At the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "How to escape the historical cycle of rise and fall, order and chaos? After a century of struggle, and especially through new practice since the 18th National Congress, our Party has given a second answer: that is self-revolution." At the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "For a hundred years, the Party has relied externally on developing people's democracy and accepting people's supervision, and internally on comprehensively and strictly governing the Party and advancing self-revolution. It has had the courage to persist in the truth and correct errors, and the courage to turn the blade inward and 'scrape the bone to treat the poison' ^[2], ensuring that the Party remains evergreen and continues to grow and strengthen. Comprehensively and strictly governing the Party is the great practice of the Party's self-revolution in the New Era, opening up a new frontier for the self-revolution of a century-old major party." At the 20th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping solemnly declared: "The whole Party must keep in mind that comprehensively and strictly governing the Party is a journey without end, and the Party's self-revolution is a journey without end." From this, we can see that General Secretary Xi Jinping, based on a profound summary of the Party's century-long struggle and especially its practice in the New Era, has deeply reflected on the major proposition of the Party's self-revolution and set forth the deployment requirements for advancing this great self-revolution.

Why must we carry out self-revolution? Since its founding over a hundred years ago, the Communist Party of China has led the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country to achieve great successes in socialist revolution, construction, and reform and opening up. Why then continue to emphasize the Party's self-revolution? First, from the perspective of the realistic background facing the new great project of Party building in the New Era, solving the prominent problems then existing within the Party required the courage and intensity to "turn the blade inward and scrape the bone to treat the poison." In the report to the 20th National Congress, when summarizing the work of the past five years and the great changes of the first decade of the New Era, General Secretary Xi Jinping soberly pointed out some worrying and prominent problems that existed within the Party before the 18th National Congress. For example, there was a lack of clear understanding and effective action regarding upholding the Party's leadership; the implementation of the Party's leadership was weakened, hollowed out, and marginalized; the political faith of some Party members and cadres wavered; and in some localities and departments, the "Four Winds" persisted despite repeated prohibitions. Problems of privilege-seeking mindsets and phenomena were relatively serious, and some cases of corruption were shocking. Faced with these prominent problems, the conclusion General Secretary Xi Jinping reached after profound reflection was that "it takes a good blacksmith to forge good steel" ^[3], and we must advance the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party with the spirit of self-revolution. Second, from the perspective of the complex environment the Party faces and the missions and tasks it shoulders, self-revolution is an inevitable requirement for always maintaining the Party's advanced nature, purity, cohesion, and combat effectiveness. As the world's largest Marxist governing party, if our Party is to always win the people's support and consolidate its long-term governing status, it must remain clear-headed and determined in resolving the unique challenges facing a large party. Through the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party since the 18th National Congress, we have solved many prominent problems within the Party. However, the tests of governance, reform and opening up, the market economy, and the external environment will exist for a long time; the dangers of mental slackening, lack of capacity, isolation from the masses, and passivity and corruption will also exist for a long time. At the Second Plenary Session of the 20th CCDI, General Secretary Xi Jinping provided an in-depth exposition on the unique challenges facing a century-old party through the "six how-to-always" ^[4] and pointed out that solving these challenges is a hurdle that must be cleared to realize the Party's missions and tasks on the new journey of the New Era; it is a "hard bone" that must be gnawed through for the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party to adapt to new situations and requirements. Faced with the noble mission of building a great modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through Chinese-path modernization, faced with major challenges of high winds and rushing waters—or even stormy waves—on the road ahead, and faced with the long-existing "Four Tests" and "Four Dangers" ^[5], solving the unique challenges of a large party will inevitably be a long and arduous process. This determines that comprehensively and strictly governing the Party is a journey without end, and the Party's self-revolution is a journey without end.

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the courage for self-revolution is the most distinctive character and the greatest advantage of our Party. The greatness of the Communist Party of China lies not in never making mistakes, but in never concealing its faults for fear of treatment ^[6], in daring to face problems head-on, and in relying on its own strength to correct errors and solve problems. The Communist Party of China is both a Marxist governing party and a Marxist revolutionary party, possessing a thorough revolutionary quality. The nature and purpose of the Communist Party of China determine that our Party does not have any special interests of its own; it has never represented the interests of any interest group, any power group, or any privileged stratum, but has always represented the fundamental interests of the broadest possible range of people. This is the source of courage and the basis of confidence for our Party to dare to engage in self-revolution. The CPC's adherence to its original aspiration and founding mission of seeking happiness for the people and rejuvenation for the nation also endows the Party with the internal drive to persist in self-revolution. The CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has precisely inherited this unique endowment of our Party. With a strong sense of historical mission and responsibility, it has advanced the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party, launched a "combination of blows" ^[7] of self-revolution, and achieved abundant results in theoretical, practical, and institutional innovation in Party governance. It has significantly enhanced our Party's ability to purify, improve, reform, and excel itself, becoming the key to leading the great social revolution in the New Era. The historic achievements and changes in the cause of the Party and the state in the New Era fully demonstrate the political leading and guaranteeing role of comprehensively and strictly governing the Party.

How should the Party's self-revolution be advanced? Since the 18th National Congress, our Party has solidly advanced the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party and taken its own building seriously, advancing self-revolution with a scientific attitude and a systematic approach. It has accumulated abundant theoretical, practical, and institutional results, and gathered effective and important experience. First, we place the Party's political building first as the fundamental building, unequivocally upholding and strengthening the Party's overall leadership, making intra-Party political life more serious, and purifying and repairing the political ecosystem. This has pushed the whole Party to strengthen the "Four Consciousnesses" ^[8], firm up the "Four Confidences" ^[9], and achieve the "Two Upholds," uniting closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core to achieve Party unity. Second, we have continuously carried out intensive intra-Party education, persisting in using Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to unify thoughts, will, and actions. We have strengthened education on ideals, convictions, and Party spirit, utilized the weapons of criticism and self-criticism, and succeeded in ideological transformation, spiritual baptism, and the purification of the heart. We guide Party members and cadres to solidify the foundation of their faith, replenish the "calcium" of the spirit ^[10], and steady the "rudder" of thought, keeping the Party's purpose and its original aspiration and founding mission in mind. Third, focusing on the development of the organizational system, we have rectified weak and lax Party organizations, continuously strengthened the political and organizational functions of Party organizations, and promoted the overall progress and strength of Party organizations at all levels. Fourth, starting with the formulation and implementation of the Eight-Point Regulations, we have persistently corrected the "Four Winds" with the "spirit of driving a nail" ^[11], resolutely opposing privilege-seeking mindsets and phenomena, and continuously winning the trust and support of the people with a new atmosphere in conduct. Fifth, we have comprehensively strengthened the Party's discipline building, strictly enforcing the Party's political discipline and political rules to drive the comprehensive tightening of organizational, integrity, mass, work, and life discipline. We regulate the performance of duties and the use of power by Party members and cadres through strict discipline. We conduct regular disciplinary education and urge leading cadres, especially high-ranking ones, to be strict with themselves, take responsibility, and manage their jurisdictions strictly. Any violation of Party discipline is investigated and punished as soon as it is discovered. Sixth, we insist on the organic combination of the Party's self-oversight and the people's supervision. We give play to the role of disciplinary inspections as a "sharp sword," emphasizing a problem-oriented approach. We focus on "top leaders" and the "key few" in leadership teams, keep a close watch on power and responsibility, and strengthen supervision and inspection to discover problems and urge rectification. We continuously improve the Party and state supervision system, achieving full coverage of supervision over public officials, reforming and perfecting dispatched supervision, promoting the integration of various types of supervision, and strengthening the effectiveness of oversight. Seventh, we persist in institutional Party governance and governing the Party in accordance with regulations, promoting the improvement of the system of intra-Party regulations. We improve authoritative and efficient execution mechanisms that link Party discipline with national law, strengthen the restraint and supervision of the exercise of power, and weave a tight "cage" of systems to restrain power. We strictly enforce systems to better transform institutional advantages into national governance effectiveness. Eighth, we have carried out the anti-corruption struggle with unprecedented intensity, using a multi-pronged approach of "beating tigers," "swatting flies," and "hunting foxes" ^[12]. We have investigated and punished a large number of corrupt elements, combated corruption and punished evil with a zero-tolerance attitude, more forcefully curbing new cases and more effectively eliminating existing ones. We resolutely investigate corruption where political and economic problems are intertwined, resolutely prevent leading cadres from becoming spokespersons or agents for interest groups and power groups, and resolutely punish new and hidden forms of corruption, improving the ability to discover and handle corruption problems in a timely and effective manner.

II. Earnestly Conducing the Education and Rectification of the Ranks of Discipline Inspection and Supervision Cadres with the Spirit of Self-Revolution to Strengthen Self-Building and Better Fulfill Duties and Missions

The education and rectification of the ranks of discipline inspection and supervision cadres is a major political task personally initiated and deployed by General Secretary Xi Jinping. It is also an important measure for the national discipline inspection and supervision system to strictly rectify the ranks with the spirit of self-revolution and to forge a high-quality "Iron Army" of discipline inspection and supervision that is loyal, clean, responsible, and both daring and adept at struggle, fitting for the heavy responsibilities of the new journey in the New Era. We must persist in high standards and strict requirements, earnestly carry out the education and rectification of the ranks of discipline inspection cadres, and solidly advance the political, ideological, conduct, and disciplinary building of these ranks. We must strictly enforce disciplinary rules, focus on improving professional levels and the ability to fulfill duties, and fulfill our responsibilities and missions with higher political literacy, better ideological style, superb capabilities, and good conduct.

Strengthen political tempering to ensure absolute loyalty to the Party. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that discipline inspection and supervision organs are political organs; they must first be politically sound and lead by example in improving political judgment, political understanding, and political execution. He also requires that discipline inspection cadres must have a high degree of self-awareness and a sense of responsibility regarding absolute loyalty to the Party—loyalty to the Party's leadership, loyalty to the Party's original aspiration and founding mission, and loyalty to the duties and missions of discipline inspection cadres, firmly maintaining the dignity and authority of the Party Constitution and Party discipline and regulations. Discipline inspection and supervision organs are the loyal guards of the Party and the people. They shoulder a major mission and responsibility in resolutely maintaining General Secretary Xi Jinping’s core status in the Party Central Committee and the Party as a whole, and in resolutely maintaining the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core. They must deepen their political, ideological, theoretical, and emotional identification with the "Two Establishments," and more consciously strengthen the "Four Consciousnesses," firm up the "Four Confidences," and achieve the "Two Upholds," always maintaining a high degree of consistency in thought, politics, and action with the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core. We must resolutely struggle against words and deeds that harm the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, and sincerely love the Party, always worry for the Party, firmly protect the Party, and fully promote the Party’s prosperity.

Reinforce theoretical arming and firm up ideals and convictions. We should make good use of the opportunities for study and education provided by the thematic education and the education and rectification of the ranks of discipline inspection cadres. We must persist in using Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to unify thoughts, will, and actions. We must treat the study and implementation of the Party's innovative theories as the primary political task of the discipline inspection departments and as the core content of the theoretical arming of discipline inspection cadres. We must keep up with the latest developments, study deeply and systematically, link theory to practice, and study with faith and action. We must fully grasp and accurately understand the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and adhere to and utilize the positions, viewpoints, and methods running through it. We must put ourselves, our responsibilities, and our work into our studies, studying with emotion to achieve firmer faith and convictions, a stronger sense of responsibility, and more powerful capabilities for fulfilling our duties. We must transform the Party's innovative theories into a powerful force for firming up ideals, tempering Party spirit, guiding practice, and promoting work, so as to better shoulder the missions and tasks entrusted by the Party and the people.

Strengthen the spirit of struggle and improve the ability to struggle. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in the report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC that we must "strengthen the cultivation of cadres' spirit and ability to struggle, focus on enhancing their capacity to prevent risks, meet challenges, and withstand pressure, and take the lead in shouldering responsibility, so that they can be recognized in ordinary times, stand forth at critical moments, and risk everything in times of crisis." This is an inevitable requirement for utilizing the historical experience of the Party’s century of struggle, promoting the Great Founding Spirit of the Party ^[13], and conducting the "Great Struggle" ^[14] on the New Journey. As the Party’s "disciplinary force," disciplinary inspection cadres perform the work of supervision—work that entails offending people. They must remain steadfast in their responsibilities and struggle against all persons and deeds that undermine the Party's unity and solidarity or damage the Party's advanced nature and purity. The courage and aptitude for struggle are extremely important character traits. It is necessary to earnestly study and comprehend General Secretary Xi Jinping’s sublime spiritual realm of "I will be selfless and live up to the people’s expectations" ^[15] and his strong sense of mission and responsibility to "offend thousands to avoid failing the 1.4 billion." We must strengthen the cultivation of the spirit and ability to struggle, and develop the "stiff backbone," "iron shoulders," and "true mastery" ^[16] required for skillful struggle. Through high-standard, high-requirement professional training and continuous practical on-the-job exercise, we must further improve performance capabilities and truly play the role of "probes" ^[17] and specialized organs for supervision and discipline inspection.

Practice strict self-cultivation and self-discipline to establish a good image. To correct others, one must first correct oneself; disciplinary inspection cadres must first be tempered and resilient themselves before they can fulfill their duties and perform their work well. In accordance with the deployment requirements of this education and rectification campaign ^[18], it is necessary to earnestly carry out self-inspection and self-correction. In comparison with the Party Constitution, Party regulations, Party discipline, and national laws and regulations, cadres must identify problems and deficiencies in areas such as ideals and convictions, ideological style, responsibility and action, and compliance with discipline. We must strengthen self-supervision and self-restraint, resolutely prevent "darkness under the lamp" ^[19], and effectively forge a "disciplinary iron army" of higher purity and finer quality through iron discipline. The new situation, new tasks, and new requirements place higher demands on disciplinary inspection cadres to handle their own construction. They must persist in basing their character and actions on Party spirit, keep in mind the "Three Musts" ^[20], and practice the "Three Stricts and Three Steadies" ^[21], always focusing on self-cultivation and demanding the highest standards of themselves. They must be models in observing the Party Constitution, regulations, discipline, and laws, taking the lead and setting an example in style and moral conduct. They must consciously accept supervision and truly ensure they are upright, clean, and tough. They must have the courage for self-revolution, hone their character and integrity, and—through excellent conduct and proactive action—make due contributions to the in-depth development of comprehensively and strictly governing the Party.

(Author: Deputy Secretary of the Provisional Party Committee and Secretary of the Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Qiushi Journal Agency)