China’s Leading Anti-Corruption Official Declares Battle Against Corruption ‘World Class Hard’ – Reuters

BEIJING – Addressing corruption within China’s ruling Communist Party presents a significant challenge, and the struggle is ongoing, according to the country’s top official in charge of tackling graft during a rare meeting with Singapore’s prime minister.

Wang Qishan, head of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, has been a key player in President Xi Jinping’s campaign against entrenched corruption. Speculation has arisen regarding his potential retirement or continuing role at the upcoming important party Congress.

During his meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Zhongnanhai leadership compound in Beijing, Wang asserted that the anti-corruption campaign and the party’s self-supervision efforts have proven to be very effective. He likened the challenge of self-regulation to a “world class hard” operation aimed at curing an illness, as stated by the commission.

The Communist Party has maintained that it does not require an independent anti-corruption body, operating in a country where the legal system is also under party control. Wang emphasized that the ultimate goal of the corruption fight is to establish a reliable method of self-monitoring for a party that has been in power for an extended period, ensuring that it remains both progressive and clean.

He noted that the party’s initiatives have garnered public trust and reinforce confidence in the party’s governance model. Wang characterized the anti-corruption effort as an ongoing journey that is always in progress.

Reports indicate that Prime Minister Lee initiated the meeting with Wang, who expressed his surprise and gratitude for the opportunity to meet. Wang conveyed to Lee his willingness to engage with him and his team.

At 69, Wang holds a position on the party’s elite Standing Committee and is expected to retire based on informal age-related guidelines at the forthcoming Congress. However, given his close relationship with Xi, sources suggest that he may remain involved in some capacity.