Jiang Sen and Wu Hui: Studying and Understanding General Secretary Xi Jinping's Important Thought on the Party's Self-Revolution from Three Dimensions

The "Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform and Advancing Chinese-path Modernization," adopted at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, points out that we must maintain a high degree of self-awareness in leading social revolution through the Party's self-revolution. We must persist in governing the Party with the spirit of reform and strict standards, improve the system of institutional norms for the Party's self-revolution, and continuously promote the Party's self-purification, self-perfection, self-renewal, and self-improvement to ensure the Party remains the strong leadership core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has taken comprehensively and strictly governing the Party as the great practice of the Party's self-revolution in the New Era. It has creatively proposed a series of original, landmark new concepts, thoughts, and strategies, forming General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important thought on the Party’s self-revolution, which guides this century-old Party in continuously opening new frontiers for self-revolution. Standing at a new historical starting point, the deeper the reform goes, the more we must uphold the spirit of self-revolution, profoundly study and understand General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important thought on the Party’s self-revolution, deeply advance the improvement of Party conduct, build clean government, and the anti-corruption struggle, and persist over the long term in comprehensively and strictly governing the Party to build our Party into an even stronger and more powerful force.

I. Why Our Party Must Engage in Self-Revolution

General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "As the world’s largest Marxist governing party, how can our Party successfully escape the historical cycle of rise and fall ^[1], and ensure that the Party never changes its nature, its conviction, or its character? This is a strategic question facing all comrades in the Party." This provides methodological guidance for our profound understanding of why the Party must engage in self-revolution.

(1) Self-revolution is the second answer to the Party’s escape from the historical cycle of rise and fall. Whether a party can escape the historical cycle of rise and fall is a fundamental issue concerning the success or failure of a political party and a regime; it is also a historical subject that our Party has continuously reflected upon and explored. During the years of revolutionary war, the Chinese Communists, with Comrade Mao Zedong as their chief representative, gave the first answer: letting the people supervise the government ^[2]. After a century of exploration by the Party, and particularly through the revolutionary tempering of comprehensively and strictly governing the Party in the New Era, we have found the second answer: self-revolution. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has, from the height of coordinating the "two overall situations" ^[3], advanced comprehensively and strictly governing the Party with a strong spirit of self-revolution. It has launched a "combination of punches" ^[4] of self-revolution, enriching and expanding new paths and methods for the Party to escape the historical cycle. The Communist Party of China has organically combined and highly unified these "two answers," allowing them to function both internally and externally in a symbiotic and progressive manner. This reveals the code for the century-old Party's enduring prosperity and eternal youth, ensuring the Party always stands invincible as a pioneer of the times and the backbone of the nation.

(2) Self-revolution is a powerful weapon for the Party to maintain its advanced nature and purity. Advanced nature and purity are the foundation for a Marxist party to maintain its vitality and constitute the main thread of its self-construction. The goal of promoting self-revolution is to ensure that the Party never changes its nature, its conviction, or its character. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "To maintain its advanced nature and purity and achieve its lofty mission, a Marxist party must 'take mending one's ways as the core concern, take seeking out one's faults as an urgent matter, take the ability to correct one's errors as a virtue, and take hearing of one's mistakes as wisdom' ^[5], solving its own problems without a moment's relaxation." An advanced Marxist party is not born that way but is tempered through continuous self-revolution. It is precisely by constantly "replenishing calcium and strengthening bones" ^[6], detoxifying and sterilizing, and removing decay to promote the growth of new flesh that the Party has been able to forge itself into a Marxist party that consistently stands at the forefront of the times throughout its more than 100 years of magnificent and great journey. On the new journey in the New Era, the "four tests" and "four dangers" ^[7] facing the Party remain severe and complex. The whole Party must have the courage to face problems head-on and the determination to "turn the blade inward," unwaveringly advancing the Party's self-revolution to ensure the Party remains the strong leadership core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

(3) Self-revolution is the strong political guarantee for realizing Chinese-path modernization. The key to managing China's affairs well lies with the Party. Our Party has the courage to engage in self-revolution and promote reform and innovation, continuously breaking down institutional barriers and the fences of vested interests in all areas, leading Chinese-path modernization toward prosperity and vitality. The 20th National Congress of the CPC solemnly declared: "From this day forward, the central task of the Communist Party of China will be to lead the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in a concerted effort to realize the Second Centenary Goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization." Chinese-path modernization is socialist modernization under the leadership of the Party; it is a grand undertaking without precedent and simultaneously a great social revolution. The more arduous the tasks of social revolution, the more thorough the self-revolution must be, ensuring the Party remains strong and powerful. Only by forging the Party into a piece of "invincible steel" can Chinese-path modernization possess a strong political guarantee and demonstrate a bright future.

II. Why Our Party Is Able to Engage in Self-Revolution

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The Communist Party of China has always represented the fundamental interests of the broadest possible range of people. It shares the same fate as the people, sticking together through thick and thin. It does not have any special interests of its own, and it has never represented the interests of any interest group, any power bloc, or any privileged stratum." This provides important insights for our profound understanding of why the Party is able to engage in self-revolution.

(1) Self-revolution stems from the Party's nature and purpose. The Communist Party of China is a party armed with Marxism. The "people-centered nature" is the essential attribute of Marxism. Thinking and working together with the people and striving for their interests is the fundamental distinction between a Marxist party and other political parties. The Communist Manifesto points out that the proletarian movement is the self-conscious, independent movement of the immense majority, in the interest of the immense majority. Precisely because the Party has always upheld the fundamental position of seeking interests for the vast majority and the fundamental purpose of whole-heartedly serving the people, it has been able to stand out in the tide of the times and continuously eliminate the bacteria and viruses infecting its body to maintain its own health and vitality. The Party has no special interests of its own other than the interests of the working class and the broadest possible masses. It does not represent the interests of any interest group, power bloc, or privileged stratum. At all times, the Party puts the interests of the masses first. This is the source of our power and the foundation of our confidence to have the courage to carry out self-revolution.

(2) Self-revolution stems from the Party's original aspiration and founding mission. The original aspiration and founding mission of seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation constitute the intrinsic drive for the Chinese Communists' courage for self-revolution. From the moment of its birth, the Party resolutely shouldered the solemn historical responsibility of striving for national independence and people's liberation, and achieving national prosperity and people's happiness. In the historical process of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the Party has continuously advanced the "Great New Project of Party Building" ^[8] with the spirit of self-revolution. To realize the fundamental interests of the broadest possible people, it has persisted in the truth and corrected its errors, repeatedly performing surgery on its own chronic and stubborn maladies. It relies on itself rather than any other force to solve problems, continuously enhancing its capacity for self-purification, self-perfection, self-renewal, and self-improvement. The Party's original aspiration and founding mission carry the will and requirements of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation. The Party's self-revolution is the process of struggling against all phenomena that violate this will and these requirements, ensuring the Party never forgets its origins while carving out the future.

(3) Self-revolution stems from the Party's historical experience. The self-revolution of the Communist Party of China has deep historical roots and a clear historical logic. In a certain sense, the history of the Communist Party of China is a history of continuously advancing self-revolution. During the New Democratic Revolution period ^[9], our Party successively corrected "Right" opportunist errors and three instances of "Left" opportunist errors. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, our Party carried out the Rectification Movement, Party consolidation, and the "Three-Antis" Campaign ^[10]. After the start of reform and opening up, our Party achieved the "setting of things to rights" ^[11], re-established Marxist political, ideological, and organizational lines, conducted a comprehensive Party consolidation, and launched a series of concentrated educational activities. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has clearly proposed that anti-corruption is the most thorough form of self-revolution. With the determination of "using strong medicine to treat a serious illness" and "applying heavy penalties to cure disorder," and with the courage of "scraping the poison off the bone" and "a brave man lopping off his own wrist" ^[12], it has unwaveringly "brushed aside flies," "downed tigers," and "hunted foxes" ^[13], eliminating serious hidden dangers within the Party, the state, and the military. In short, self-revolution is a profound summation of the CPC's century-long historical experience; it is an important reason why the Party has grown from weak to strong and expanded. It clearly demonstrates the political consciousness, mode of action, and ultimate value of a century-old Party.

III. How Our Party Advances Self-Revolution

At the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed the practical requirements of the "Nine Individual Requirements" (jiǔ gè yǐ) ^[14]. Following the elaboration of the "Six Musts" (liù gè bì xū) principle-based requirements and the "Nine Persists" (jiǔ gè jiān chí) systematic understandings, this further enriches the top-level design and strategic planning of the Party's self-revolution, providing a practical logic for deeply advancing the Party's self-revolution on the new journey in the New Era.

(1) Taking the persistence of the CPC Central Committee’s centralized and unified leadership as the fundamental guarantee. Persisting in the Central Committee's centralized and unified leadership is a major principle of Marxist party building, as well as a fine tradition and political advantage formed by our Party through long-term practice. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the greatest advantage of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and the CPC is the highest force for political leadership; thus, persisting in the Central Committee's centralized and unified leadership is the highest political principle. The Communist Party of China is the subject of self-revolution, and the Central Committee is the "brain and central hub." There must be an authority that "commands absolute respect and has the final say." This determines that advancing the Party's self-revolution in the New Era must be directed by the Central Committee's top-level design and strategic planning, with the entire Party advancing as one, ensuring the Party's self-revolution always moves forward in the correct political direction.

(2) Taking the leadership of the great social revolution as the fundamental purpose. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "To successfully conduct the great social revolution of persisting in and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, our Party must have the courage to carry out self-revolution." The Party's self-revolution never exists in isolation; it is highly integrated and dialectically unified with the Party’s mission, tasks, struggle goals, and central work. The Party's self-revolution is the fundamental prerequisite and political guarantee for the social revolution led by the Party; the advancement of social revolution is the fundamental destination and value pursuit of the Party's self-revolution. Only by building the Party into a stronger and more powerful force can the fundamental task of advancing the great social revolution be completed. We must plan and advance systematically around the mission and tasks of the Party on the new journey in the New Era, ensuring the Party's self-revolution better serves and subordinates itself to the promotion of Chinese-path modernization.

(3) Taking Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the fundamental compliance. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st-century Marxism. It is the essence of Chinese culture and the Chinese spirit in our times, achieving a new leap in the Sinicization of Marxism. Advancing the Party’s self-revolution must be guided by the Party's innovative theories. We must unswervingly arm the whole Party with Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, tempering the sharp ideological weapon of self-revolution. We must deeply study and practice the major significance, core tenets, basic connotations, and practical requirements of the Party's innovative theories, mastering the scientific worldview and methodology that run through them, ensuring the whole Party is unified in thought, will, and action, and carrying the Party's self-revolution through to the end.

(4) Taking the escape from the historical cycle of rise and fall as the strategic goal. Through a century of struggle, the Party has successfully explored the correct path to escape the historical cycle. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that escaping the historical cycle is a major issue concerning the Party’s long-term success, its survival, and the rise or fall of our country’s socialist system. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has advanced comprehensively and strictly governing the Party with a strong spirit of self-revolution. The political guiding and guaranteeing role of comprehensively and strictly governing the Party has been fully exerted. The Party's political leadership, ideological guidance, mass organization, and social appeal have been significantly strengthened. The people’s sense of fulfillment, happiness, and security has continuously improved, driving the development of the cause of the Party and the country to achieve historical achievements and undergo historical changes. To advance the Party’s self-revolution in the New Era, we must take escaping the historical cycle as the strategic goal, resolutely eliminate the viruses that damage the Party’s healthy body, and continuously consolidate the political and social foundations of the Party's long-term governance.

(5) Taking the resolution of the unique challenges facing a large party as the primary direction of attack. The Communist Party of China is the largest Marxist governing party in the world. Being "large" means it must act the part, but "large" also brings its own unique difficulties. At the Second Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, General Secretary Xi Jinping used...

The "six imperatives of how to always" ^[15] summarize the realistic orientation and manifestations of the unique challenges facing a large party, providing scientific guidance for our accurate understanding of the fundamental connotations of these challenges. Resolving the unique challenges of a large party is a long-term process that requires perseverance and persisting over the long term; in particular, we must implement targeted treatment, combined efforts, and address both symptoms and root causes regarding the "six imperatives of how to always." Deeply advancing the Party's self-revolution provides us with a powerful weapon to resolve the unique challenges of a large party. What it resolves are precisely the issues damaging the Party's advanced nature and purity, as well as the challenges of long-term governance. The method is to face problems head-on, turn the blade inward ^[16], and remove the rot to allow new flesh to grow.

(6) Taking the improvement of the system for comprehensively and strictly governing the Party as the effective path.

Improving the system for comprehensively and strictly governing the Party is a major assertion and brand-new requirement first proposed at the 20th CPC National Congress. During the 15th collective study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, General Secretary Xi Jinping made important arrangements for improving the system for comprehensively and strictly governing the Party across five aspects: the organizational system, education system, supervision system, institutional system, and responsibility system. Advancing the Party's self-revolution in the New Era requires firmly establishing a systems perspective, implementing the general requirements for Party building in the New Era and the strategic policy of comprehensively and strictly governing the Party. We must persist in institutional Party governance and governing the Party in accordance with regulations, refine the system of institutional norms for the Party's self-revolution, and implement the seven strategic deployments proposed by the 20th CPC National Congress. The requirements for comprehensively and strictly governing the Party must be implemented throughout the entire process of Party building, reaching every level of the Party's organizations and all Party members and cadres. This involves consolidating the primary responsibility and supervisory responsibility for comprehensively and strictly governing the Party, continuously improving the system of internal Party regulations, and enriching the effective paths for the Party's self-revolution.

(7) Taking the forging of strong organizations and the cultivation of an ironclad workforce as the important focal point.

Forging strong organizations and building an ironclad workforce are critical components of the Party's organizational development and constitute the organizational foundation for advancing the Party's self-revolution. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized the need to persist in enhancing the political functions and the organizational and cohesive power of Party organizations, forging a cadre workforce that dares to struggle, is good at struggling, and has the courage for self-revolution. We must implement the Party's organizational line for the New Era, establish and improve an organizational system that connects the higher and lower levels with effective execution, and enhance the political and organizational functions of Party organizations. We must build a high-quality cadre workforce that is loyal, clean, and responsible, highlighting political standards in the selection and appointment of personnel. We must coordinate the construction of five major systems: quality cultivation, knowledge of personnel, selection and appointment, strict management, and positive incentives for cadres. Furthermore, we must strengthen the cultivation of cadres' spirit and capability for struggle ^[17], providing strong organizational support for advancing the Party's self-revolution.

(8) Taking the rectification of conduct, enforcement of discipline, and anti-corruption as the important grasp.

Rectifying conduct, enforcing discipline, and fighting corruption are essential methods of comprehensively and strictly governing the Party. General Secretary Xi Jinping has clearly proposed major assertions such as: the issue of Party conduct is a matter of life and death for a governing party; strengthening disciplinary construction is the fundamental strategy for comprehensively and strictly governing the Party; and anti-corruption is the most thorough self-revolution. We must persistently grasp the construction of work styles with unrelenting effort, take a clear stand against the Four Winds (specifically formalism and bureaucratism), and implement the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations with the "spirit of driving a nail" ^[18]. We must use the strictness of political discipline and political rules to drive the comprehensive tightening of all Party disciplines. We must integrally advance the "three non-corruptions"—ensuring that officials do not dare to be corrupt, cannot be corrupt, and do not want to be corrupt. The "three non-corruptions" serve as the basic policy for the anti-corruption struggle and an important strategy for comprehensively and strictly governing the Party, ensuring that all three elements exert force simultaneously, in the same direction, and in a comprehensive manner.

(9) Taking the combination of self-supervision and people's supervision as the powerful driving force.

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We cannot carry out self-revolution behind closed doors; instead, we must listen more to the opinions of the masses and consciously accept the supervision of the people." The combination of self-supervision and people's supervision—integrating the internal and external, complementing and unifying one another—is a great innovation of our Party in advancing self-revolution. It profoundly reflects the methodology of the dialectical unity of internal and external causes. Advancing the Party's self-revolution in the New Era requires upholding the leading role of internal Party supervision, improving a supervision system under the Party's unified leadership that is comprehensive, authoritative, and efficient. We must coordinate and align supervision from state organs, democratic supervision, judicial supervision, mass supervision, and public opinion supervision, while continuously expanding the channels for the people's supervision and improving the effectiveness of such oversight.