He Husheng: Confining Power in the Cage of Institutions More Scientifically and Effectively
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out at the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection [1] that "the Party's self-revolution focuses on the governance of power; confining power within the cage of institutions is an important task for comprehensively and strictly governing the Party in the New Era," emphasizing that we must "confine power within the cage of institutions more scientifically and effectively." To implement the spirit of this important speech, we must unswervingly strengthen the institutional governance of power and the use of power in accordance with regulations, continuously improve the restraint and supervision mechanisms for the operation of power, and ensure that the power entrusted by the Party and the people always serves the fundamental interests of the people.
1. Grasping the Core Essence
Power is a "double-edged sword": used for the public, it blesses the people; used for private ends, it brings infinite harm. Since the 18th Party Congress [2], General Secretary Xi Jinping has made a series of important expositions centering on establishing a correct outlook on power and regulating its operation. He has profoundly elucidated the source, attributes, and purpose of power, highlighting the correct direction of persisting in institutional governance of power and restraining power through supervision. This provides the fundamental guidance for tightening the institutional cage, improving power supervision and restraint mechanisms, and ensuring the correct exercise of power.
Confining power within the cage of institutions scientifically and effectively centers on ensuring that the power entrusted by the Party and the people is always used to seek benefits for the people. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "If we forget the people or become detached from them, we will become like water without a source or a tree without roots, and we will achieve nothing." The Communist Party of China is a Marxist governing party that serves the people heart and soul; the Party's foundation and lifeblood lie with the people. Only by having a "clear ledger" regarding the source of power can one be a "good examinee" in creating benefits for the people. To this end, we should further strengthen our sense of mission and will to struggle, aligning our thoughts and actions with the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core in its accurate judgment of the situation and scientific deployment of tasks. We must constantly examine ourselves to see whether our thoughts and actions have deviated from our fundamental purpose, firmly establish the political self-awareness that power is used for the people and interests are sought for the people, truly allow public power to serve the public, and ensure through institutional constraints that we bring well-being to the people.
The key to confining power within the cage of institutions scientifically and effectively lies in achieving the systematic integration of restraint and supervision, using the certainty of institutions to regulate the operation of power. Institutions establish the foundation, plan for the overall situation, and determine long-term stability; they are the fundamental cure for strengthening the restraint and supervision of power. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Without sound institutions and without power being confined in the cage of institutions, the phenomenon of corruption cannot be controlled." If power is not given boundaries or rules, it will become distorted and alienated, moving to the opposite side of the people. Regulating the operation of power is not a task for a single day, nor can it be achieved overnight or once and for all. Confining power within the cage of institutions means bringing the operation of power onto an institutional track, continuously improving institutional regulations, and building an institutional system that is dense but not cumbersome—one that is effective and useful. We must use the "rigidity" of institutions to restrain the "capriciousness" of power, thereby maintaining and consolidating a regulated order for the operation of power within complex and ever-changing governance environments. At the same time, regulating the operation of power is not about binding the hands and feet of those who wish to act and innovate, but rather about eradicating the chronic malady of "privilege mentality." The tighter the institutional constraints, the more regulated the exercise of power; the clearer the boundaries of power, the broader the space for Party members and cadres to take responsibility.
The essence of confining power within the cage of institutions scientifically and effectively lies in deepening the Party's self-revolution, leading the great social revolution with the great self-revolution. Confining power within the cage of institutions is not a forced move or an interim measure; it is a long-term strategy of ideological Party building and institutional Party governance, deeply embedded in the overall situation of the causes of the Party and the state during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period [3]. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The 'Four Winds' mostly stem from privilege mentality, and corruption is prominently manifested as seeking private gain through power; therefore, the Party's self-revolution focuses on the governance of power." Scientifically and effectively regulating the operation of power is an important part of promoting the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity, and it is also a strong guarantee for achieving the goals and tasks of the "15th Five-Year Plan" period. The depth of the governance of power determines the intensity of self-revolution. Only by always maintaining the self-awareness to face problems head-on and the courage to "turn the blade inward" while tightening the institutional fence can we better enhance the Party's political leadership, ideological guidance, mass organization, and social appeal, ensuring that the Party remains a strong leadership core in the great cause of building a powerful nation and national rejuvenation.
2. Adhering to a Problem-Oriented Approach
During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, a more complex international situation and more arduous tasks of domestic reform, development, and stability have put forward new requirements for confining power within the cage of institutions more scientifically and effectively and letting power run in the sunshine. We must base ourselves on stage-specific achievements, inherit fine traditions and valuable experience, face problems directly, and advance against difficulties, making institutions into rigid constraints and "high-voltage lines" that must not be touched.
Avoid "caging cats in cattle pens" [4] and "trapping tigers in paper cages," further improving the institutional system for regulating the use of power. The vivid metaphors of "caging cats in cattle pens" and "trapping tigers in paper cages" refer respectively to the problems of loopholes in institutional design and leeway in institutional execution. Since the New Era, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has placed institutional building in a prominent position, promoting the construction of a complete, scientific, regulated, and effective institutional system. It has formulated and revised a series of landmark, key, and foundational intra-Party regulations, continued to deepen the reform of the discipline inspection and supervision system, and improved the "pillars and beams" of the supervision system. Through authoritative and efficient institutional execution, it has driven historical achievements in using institutions to govern the Party and manage power. During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, facing new types of corruption and "invisible corruption" that may exist in new business formats and fields, we face challenges in the process of refining the institutional system for regulating power. These include how to avoid institutional overlaps or gaps, how to solve problems of lag or lack of targeting in institutional construction, and how to clear blockages in various links of institutional execution. This requires our Party to continue scientifically coordinating institutional systematicity and precision, and coordinating governance synergy and effectiveness, as well as the active transformation between the two. While weaving a dense institutional net, we must strengthen the execution of institutional restraint and supervision over the operation of power.
Coordinate the "key minority" [5] and the "vast majority," further ensuring the regulated operation of power. The "key minority" is the backbone force leading the development of the cause, while the "vast majority" is the foundational force promoting its progress; together, they constitute the solid support for our Party's governance and national revitalization. Since the 18th Party Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core began its work by formulating and implementing the Eight-Point Regulations, establishing iron rules and strong constraints, and driving a revitalization of the style of the Party and the government. During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, the task of coordinating the management of the "key minority" and the "vast majority" will be even more arduous. This requires our Party to keenly identify and scientifically judge various risks—both exposed and latent—among Party members and cadres at different levels, in different fields, and in different positions during the operation of power. We must improve a supervision pattern that is stricter and more solid for the "key minority" and provides comprehensive coverage for the "vast majority," gathering the overall synergistic effect of "the lead bird charting the course and the flock flying in formation."
Guarding against "rushing for success" and "sloth and conventionalism," further advancing the anti-corruption struggle with an attitude of never stopping for a single step or retreating for half a step. In advancing the anti-corruption struggle, one cannot hold onto the idea of a "quick decision" that finishes the task in one stroke, nor a passive mentality of intermittent or halting progress. We must grasp it frequently, grasp it in detail, and grasp it over the long term, never withdrawing until a complete victory is won. Since the 18th Party Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has shown the responsibility to "offend thousands of people rather than fail the 1.4 billion," eradicating maladies and curing chaos. It has achieved and comprehensively consolidated an overwhelming victory in the anti-corruption struggle, removing "roadblocks" and "stumbling blocks" for the realization of Chinese-path modernization. Currently, the anti-corruption situation remains severe and complex; the task of uprooting the soil and conditions that breed corruption remains arduous and heavy. In some areas where power and resources are concentrated, the "stock" of corruption has not been fully cleared, and the "increment" is still accumulating. While major progress has been made in rectifying the "Four Winds" and investigating corruption, there remains the possibility of a rebound. To this end, we must always grasp the latest trends, maintain a high-pressure posture, and preserve strategic resolve, acting with vigor and speed while persisting over the long term to uproot corrupt thoughts and behaviors that are essentially the abuse of power, ensuring that power is always used to seek happiness for the people.
3. Strengthening Systematic Governance
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Deepen the treatment of both symptoms and root causes and systematic governance, and continuously expand the depth and breadth of the anti-corruption struggle," and "use systematic thinking and scientific methods to promote the governance of the Party so that it reaches all content, covers all objects, connects all chains of responsibility, and penetrates all institutions, further improving a system for comprehensively and strictly governing the Party that has complete elements, full functions, scientific specifications, and efficient operation." To confine power within the cage of institutions more scientifically and effectively and provide a strong guarantee for the goals and tasks of the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, we must not look at problems in isolation or grasp governance one-sidedly. Instead, we must accurately grasp the laws and characteristics of the operation of power, strengthen systematic concepts, and enhance coordination and cooperation. Through the unification of rule-making and discipline enforcement, and the combination of leading by example with publicity and education, we will provide a strong guarantee for the steady and long-term progress of Chinese-path modernization through new achievements in comprehensively and strictly governing the Party.
Persist in the unification of rule-making and discipline enforcement to enhance the scientific level of institutional design and the rigid constraint of institutional execution. The vitality of an institution lies in its execution, and the prerequisite for execution lies in its own scientific nature. To this end, on the one hand, we should continuously improve institutional regulations and enhance their targeting and operability. This requires combining the new tasks and requirements of comprehensively and strictly governing the Party in the New Era, promptly elevating relatively mature experiences and practices from practice into institutional regulations, and doing a good job in building, revising, abolishing, and interpreting rules. On the other hand, we should focus on improving institutional execution to maintain the seriousness and authority of institutions. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We must strictly execute institutions, comprehensively implement democratic centralism [6], and supervise the operation of power throughout the entire process." Once an institution is formed, it is a rigid constraint; we must persist in the principle that everyone is equal before regulations and institutions, there are no privileges in obeying them, and no exceptions in executing them. We must resolutely correct behavior such as ignoring orders, failing to stop prohibited actions, or being selective, flexible, or discounting in execution. We must have "zero tolerance" for acts that undermine institutions, letting power run in a regulated and orderly manner within the institutional framework, ensuring that institutional regulations truly become "live high-voltage lines."
Persist in combining leading by example with publicity and education to guide the broad masses of Party members and cadres to understand laws and discipline, clarify rules, and feel awe. Confining power within a cage relies not only on external institutional constraints but also on internal conscious adherence. On the one hand, leading cadres must take the lead in executing institutions. Leading cadres specifically exercise the Party's governing power and the state's legislative, executive, supervisory, and judicial powers; they must take the lead in defending the authority of institutions, struggling against behaviors that violate or destroy them, and leading the broad masses of Party members and cadres to continuously enhance their awareness of following rules and discipline. Whatever is required of Party members and cadres, leading cadres must do first; whatever Party members and cadres are forbidden from doing, leading cadres must resolutely refrain from. By grasping the task from the top down and having one level lead the next, we create a clean and upright political ecosystem. On the other hand, we must innovate methods of discipline education and legal publicity to build an ideological dam against corruption and degeneration. We must persist in normalized and long-term education on Party spirit and warning education, guiding Party members and cadres to deeply study the Party Constitution, Party regulations, and Party discipline—not only "knowing the what" but also "knowing the why." By analyzing typical cases, we can ensure that Party members and cadres truly feel awe for power, laws, and discipline from the depths of their hearts.
Persist in promoting the operation of power in the sunshine and the coordination of various types of supervision to form a comprehensive, normalized, and long-term supervision synergy. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Sunshine is the best antiseptic. If the operation of power does not see the light of day, or sees it selectively, credibility cannot be established." We should further improve the transparency of Party and government affairs. The content of disclosure should highlight key points, squeeze out "water" [excessive fluff], and bring out the "dry goods" [substantive information], letting the masses hear what they most want to hear, see what they most want to see, and understand what they most want to understand. In the era of digital intelligence, we must also make good use of modern information technology, embedding risk prevention nodes and requirements into approval and supervision platforms. This promotes the online transparency of Party and government affairs, clears the space for "black box" operations and the abuse or private use of power, and lets the sunshine illuminate every corner of the exercise of power. While improving transparency, we must also focus on building a supervision system led by intra-Party supervision that is systematically integrated, synergistic, and efficient. We must continue to promote the normalized and institutionalized connection and coordination of disciplinary supervision, supervisory monitoring, dispatched supervision, and inspection tours [7], achieving information exchange, resource sharing, and common use of results. We must continuously promote the coordination, linkage, and complementary advantages of supervision by the People's Congress, democratic supervision, administrative supervision, and judicial supervision, forming a supervisory force that ensures power runs in a regulated manner under all-around and whole-process strict supervision.