Xi: Anti-corruption fight should target both “tigers” and “flies”

INTRO

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, has moved his anti-corruption campaign forward, including new constraints, on the powers of officials.

The move follows multiple scandals involving officials owning more than they earned.

A bold crackdown on corruption, from the top of China's new leadership...

At a Communist Party disciplinary meeting on Tuesday, Party Chief, Xi Jinping, vowed to fight both "tigers" and flies" - officials who corrupt by bullying, as well as letting it happen...

Xi ordered new limits on officials' power - which he said, must be reigned in.

To ensure this, Xi called for stronger national anti-corruption legislation... As well as tougher rules within the Party itself...

In what he called a 'prevention and punishment' mechanism, to supervise - and discipline - those who rule, without restraint.

But the new head of China's ruling party faces a serious challenge, in enforcing these ambitious new rules...

After a string of scandals last year suggested rampant corruption in cities far from the eyes of Beijing...

Cities, like Chongqing, in southwest China...

Its former Party Secretary, Bo Xilai, is awaiting trial for corruption and abuse of power after allegedly using the city's police to remove opponents...

And his wife was convicted of murdering a British businessman.

But Chongqing wasn't alone... The southeastern province of Guangdong also saw its reputation tarnished last year...

After three officials were exposed online as possessing multi-million dollar properties -- estates their government salaries, could hardly afford.

A Guangdong urban management official, Cai Bin, was sacked in October, after netizens revealed he had 22 houses...

Now Guangzhou, the provincial capital, is taking tougher action too...

A pilot scheme requiring officials to declare their assets, to make their financial status more transparent is to begin after Spring Festival, on February the 10th.

China's top party leader says the fight against corruption, will be a long-term battle... Which could take decades...

In a country that has changed so much, so suddenly...

And... where old traditions like 'gifting' - which can border on bribery - remain a core part of business.

Xi says both the symptoms and causes of corruption must be addressed, so no cadre enjoys unbridled power, again.