Understand the new assertions and new arrangements in the communiqué of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection

The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection was held in Beijing from January 6th to 8th. General Secretary Xi Jinping attended the plenary session and delivered an important speech.  
On January 8th, the plenary session bulletin was released.   Profoundly grasping the current severe and complex situation in the anti-corruption struggle, we must remain steadfast in our determination to win the long-lasting battle against corruption; Profoundly grasp the policy and strategy of promoting anti-corruption, preventing corruption, and avoiding corruption, and firmly determine to win the overall battle against corruption.
Since the new era, the efforts to promote comprehensive strict governance of the Party and the fight against corruption have been unprecedented, and the results are evident to all
Anti corruption is the most thorough self revolution. As long as the soil and conditions that breed corruption still exist, the fight against corruption will always be on the road.
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection that since the new era, the efforts to promote comprehensive strict governance of the Party and the fight against corruption have been unprecedented, and the results are evident to all. After the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, we have made bold and decisive efforts, and after the 19th National Congress, we have remained steadfast and steady. After the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, we have continued to work hard and deepen our efforts. Our party has led the people to successfully embark on a path of anti-corruption with Chinese characteristics, and pushed the fight against corruption to a new and higher starting point.
  The whole party has a clearer understanding and more firm action on the major issue of self revolution; Solidly carry out Party discipline learning and education, and the awareness of all Party members to abide by rules and regulations has been significantly enhanced; Continuously increase anti-corruption efforts and eradicate the soil and conditions that breed corruption; Deepening the concentrated rectification of unhealthy practices and corruption around the masses, a large number of prominent issues strongly reflected by the masses have been resolved; Deepening institutional governance and rule based governance of the Party has further enhanced the Party's ability to lead the fight against corruption and promote comprehensive strict governance of the Party.
This year, our party carried out centralized learning and education with party discipline as the theme for the first time, promoting the whole party to learn, understand, and observe discipline; In the first three quarters, the national disciplinary inspection and supervision organs filed 642000 cases and punished 589000 people, including 58 provincial-level cadres, 3263 department level cadres, 26000 county-level cadres, and 89000 township level cadres; From January to November, the "Skynet 2024" operation recovered a total of 1306 fugitives and 15.444 billion yuan in stolen funds; The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China issued the Regulations on the Study and Education of Party History to promote the normalization and long-term effectiveness of the study and education of party history. The General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China issued the Measures for the Disposal of Unqualified Party Members Organizations of the CPC to provide institutional guarantees for the serious and prudent disposal of unqualified Party members
Looking back at 2024, the heavy numbers and heartwarming facts indicate that the consistent promotion of comprehensive strict governance of the Party has achieved new progress and results.
In the new era, facing the prominent issues of building a clean and honest Party conduct and fighting against corruption within the Party, we adhere to the principle of combating corruption and cracking down on corruption. We always punish corruption with a zero tolerance attitude, and the Party, military, and people's hearts are unprecedentedly united and uplifted.  
Firm confidence in winning the battle against corruption, unwavering determination to win the protracted battle against corruption, and resolute determination to win the overall battle against corruption
We must be soberly aware that the current situation in the fight against corruption is still severe and complex. The stock of corruption has not been cleared yet, and the increment is still continuing to occur. The task of eradicating the soil and conditions that breed corruption is still arduous and heavy. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection that "to understand the fight against corruption, we must have a historical perspective, strategic height, and focus on achieving the mission and tasks of the Party
What is a historical perspective? The key is to be good at learning from history, grasping the value orientation from our party's century long struggle, and realizing that our party must always adhere to its original aspiration and mission, and must eliminate corruption as the biggest threat.
What is strategic height? At present, we are in the critical period of Chinese path to modernization, and the environment at home and abroad is undergoing extremely extensive and profound changes. Only by unswervingly fighting corruption and maintaining the health, advancement and purity of the Party, can we take the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics and remain invincible in the great changes not seen in a century.
 
——We must have unwavering confidence in winning the battle against corruption. This means that we must deeply grasp the historic achievements of the anti-corruption struggle in the new era, focus on eradicating the soil and conditions that breed corruption, continue to consolidate the hard won overwhelming victory, and ensure that the red country will never change color with the Party never deteriorating.
——The unwavering determination to win the protracted battle against corruption. This means that we must deeply grasp the still severe and complex situation of the current anti-corruption struggle, always maintain the tenacity and persistence of the anti-corruption campaign, maintain strategic determination and high-pressure situation, and keep the Party's self revolution on the road to carry out the anti-corruption struggle to the end.
——Firmly determined to win the overall battle against corruption. This means that we must deeply grasp the policy and strategy of promoting the unity of not daring to be corrupt, not being corrupt, and not wanting to be corrupt. On this major issue that concerns the support of the people and the future destiny, we must not stop step by step, not back down halfway, and must not hesitate, waver, slack off, or give up halfway.
Adhere to the spirit of reform and strict standards in governing the Party, ensuring the implementation of the deployment of the 20th National Congress of the Party and the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection that we must adhere to the spirit of reform and strict standards in governing the Party, and resolutely fight the long-term and overall battle against corruption. The plenary communiqu é mentioned in the deployment of tasks for 2025 that "we must adhere to the spirit of reform and strict standards in governing the Party". Among the eight tasks, "reform" and "strictness" are high-frequency words.
The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China sounded the clarion call to further and comprehensively deepen reform closely around the promotion of Chinese path to modernization. The communique proposed to strengthen political supervision around the major deployment of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and focus on further comprehensively deepening reform and promoting Chinese path to modernization to achieve stability.
The deeper the comprehensive deepening of reform, the more we need to stabilize the direction, highlight practical results, and make every effort to tackle challenges. As the specialized organs for intra party supervision and national supervision, the primary and foremost responsibility of disciplinary inspection and supervision organs is supervision, and the most fundamental is to strengthen political supervision. Disciplinary inspection and supervision organs must strengthen political supervision, firmly uphold the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee in further deepening reform comprehensively, closely focus on achieving the overall goal of reform and the progress of the "seven focuses" and 13 sub field goals, refine and implement supervision content, and promote party organizations at all levels to concentrate on reform and implement it vigorously.
Strict discipline is the glorious tradition and unique advantage of the Party. History and practice have fully proved that strengthening the Party's discipline education is a major political advantage of our Party, an effective measure to maintain the progressiveness and purity of the Party, and a reliable guarantee for the Party's cause to overcome difficulties and constantly move from victory to new victory. The communique proposes to consolidate and deepen the achievements of Party discipline learning and education, and focus on promoting the formation of a good atmosphere of compliance with rules and regulations, and entrepreneurship.
Discipline inspection and supervision organs are the "disciplinary forces" of the Party, shouldering the important responsibility of maintaining Party discipline. They must adhere to higher standards and stricter requirements, consolidate and deepen the study and education of Party discipline, strictly enforce discipline, and accurately apply the "four forms".
The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China has put forward clear requirements for strengthening inspections, rectification, and the application of achievements. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China emphasized the inclusion of the implementation of major reforms in the content of supervision, inspection, and patrol, and tested the reforms based on actual results and the satisfaction of the people. The communique points out that we will adhere to the positioning of political inspections and focus on promoting more accurate identification and effective resolution of problems during inspections.
We need to conduct practical political inspections, thoroughly identify the main contradictions that affect high-quality development, and implement major deviations in the reform deployment. Scientifically coordinate routine inspections, special inspections, mobile inspections, and "look back" inspections, and flexibly carry out higher-level inspections. Establish a sound coordination mechanism for internal inspections and disciplinary supervision within central units, and deepen the promotion of village inspections. Further strengthen the main responsibility for rectification, improve the rectification supervision mechanism, and enhance the pertinence and effectiveness of rectification.
  The communique proposes to deepen the implementation of the reform of the disciplinary inspection and supervision system, and focus on promoting the improvement of the Party's self revolution system and norms.
The disciplinary inspection and supervision organs must thoroughly implement the strategic deployment of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the reform of the disciplinary inspection and supervision system, deepen the reform of the internal and stationed institutions of the disciplinary inspection and supervision commission, complete the comprehensive deployment of disciplinary inspection and supervision teams to centrally managed enterprises, and promote the "re deployment" of relevant stationed institutions to subordinate units, affiliated universities, and central enterprises under the management leadership of the State owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council. Assist the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in formulating the working methods for the Party Committee (Party Group) to conduct supervision talks with the "top leaders" at lower levels, and draft the Anti Cross border Corruption Law. Guided by intra party supervision, with specialized supervision as the backbone, grassroots supervision as the support, and coordination of various types of supervision as the guarantee, we will promote the improvement of the Party and state supervision system.
The communique proposes to strengthen the political responsibility of comprehensively governing the Party strictly and strive to promote the consistent tone of strictness. The key to handling China's affairs well lies in the Party and the comprehensive strict governance of the Party. Only by continuously improving the responsibility pattern of each party taking their own responsibilities and coordinating in a unified manner can we truly tighten and compact the responsibility of comprehensively governing the party strictly, consolidate and develop the good situation of the whole party working together.
Establish a mechanism for investigating and addressing misconduct and corruption issues, continuously deepen the rectification of misconduct and corruption around the masses, and strive to promote better and more equitable benefits of reform and development for the broad masses of the people
Adhere to the integration of rectification, discipline, and anti-corruption, severely punish the intertwined problems of corruption through 'joint investigation', and eradicate the common root causes of corruption through 'joint governance'. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection that we must deepen the promotion of joint investigation and governance of corruption. The communique of the plenary session emphasized the need to improve the mechanism for investigating and addressing corrupt practices and corruption, and to focus on promoting the deepening of the integration of rectification and anti-corruption.
The simultaneous investigation and governance of corruption is a deepening of the understanding of the regularity of the construction of Party conduct and clean governance, as well as the fight against corruption. A large number of cases have shown that although there are differences in the forms and degrees of harm between corrupt practices and corruption, they share the same root and origin, and are interrelated. The "Four Winds" problem is a breeding ground for corruption, and corruption breeds and promotes the "Four Winds" problem.
According to recent data released by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission, in November 2024, a total of 28327 cases of violations of the spirit of the eight central regulations were investigated and dealt with nationwide, with 38961 people criticized, educated, and dealt with, including 27996 disciplinary and administrative sanctions. This is the 135th consecutive month that monthly report data has been released.
To promote the simultaneous investigation and treatment of wind and corruption, we must firmly grasp the key of discovering and handling problem clues, and severely punish the intertwined problems of wind and corruption through "joint investigation". The communique of the plenary session clearly states that we will persistently implement the spirit of the Central Eight point Regulation, strictly rectify the "four undesirable practices" to the end, focus on issues such as violations of discipline, hidden mutations, serious impact on market order, and increased burden on grassroots, strengthen supervision, and deepen governance.
Cui Maohu, former Deputy Minister of the United Front Work Department of the Central Committee and former Director of the State Administration for Religious Affairs, indulged in extravagant pleasures and illegally occupied arable land for personal "achievements"; Chinese petroleum system officials make friends with political swindlers, form connections, and rely on oil to eat oil; Multiple civilian (auxiliary) police officers at the Vehicle Management Office in Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province have infringed upon the interests of the masses... The case in the second episode of the TV special film "Anti Corruption for the People", "Investigation and Treatment of Corruption Together", shows that some officials often open up gaps in seemingly trivial work style issues such as a pack of cigarettes, a cake of tea, a bottle of wine, and a meal, gradually leading them onto the path of corruption and degeneration.
To promote the simultaneous investigation and treatment of wind and corruption, we need to not only focus on the "investigation", but also see the truth in the "treatment", and use "investigation" and "treatment" to connect and block the evolution of wind and corruption. The plenary session communique has made specific arrangements to eradicate the common root causes of corruption through "joint governance". Disciplinary inspection and supervision organs at all levels should strengthen timely warning and supervision of the spouses, children, and spouses of leading cadres who engage in illegal business and enterprise operations, promote the construction of a political ecological analysis and judgment mechanism under the unified leadership of the Party committee, the organization and coordination of the disciplinary committee, and the coordination of relevant departments, and improve the joint punishment mechanism for key bribe givers.
Chinese path to modernization focuses on people's livelihood. 'Fly greed and ant corruption' harm the vital interests of the masses and jeopardize the foundation of the Party's governance, and must be resolutely punished. The communique of the plenary session emphasized the need to continuously deepen the rectification of unhealthy practices and corruption around the masses, and to strive to promote the better and more equitable benefits of reform and development for the broad masses of the people.
In 2024, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission will deploy nationwide to carry out a concentrated crackdown on unhealthy practices and corruption among the masses, using unconventional measures to punish "flies, greed, ants, and corruption", resolutely safeguarding the interests of the masses, and consolidating the foundation of the Party's governance. Carry out two national special campaigns to address prominent issues in the management of "campus meals" in primary and secondary schools and "three funds" in rural collectives, and collaborate with relevant departments to tackle 15 specific issues such as fraudulent use of social security funds.
People's livelihood refers to the direction of the people's hearts. We must continue to exert efforts and make long-term efforts to rectify the unhealthy practices and corruption around the masses. In 2025, disciplinary inspection and supervision agencies will deepen the governance of prominent issues such as "campus meals", management of rural collective "three funds", supervision of the use of rural revitalization funds, management of medical insurance funds, and elderly care services, and solidly promote the special action to rectify corruption and chaos in the funeral industry.
The disciplinary inspection and supervision organs are an important force in promoting the Party's self revolution, and the Party and the people have full trust and expectations in this team. When deploying the tasks for 2025 in the plenary session bulletin, it was proposed to launch the "Year of Standardization, Rule of Law, and Standardization Construction of Discipline Inspection and Supervision Work" campaign, focusing on promoting the construction of the discipline inspection and supervision iron army to a new level. All levels of disciplinary inspection and supervision organs shall conscientiously implement the deployment of the plenary session, strengthen political construction, capacity building, work style building, and integrity building, and build a loyal, clean, responsible, and capable disciplinary inspection and supervision iron army with higher standards and stricter requirements.
The situation is pressing, the challenge is pressing, and the mission is pressing.