Chinese disciplinary officials told to discard VIP cards

The discipline watchdog of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has urged staff with disciplinary and supervisory organs to throw away "membership cards received in various names."

According to a circular released Monday by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), officials and employees currently working in disciplinary and supervisory departments should discard "all kinds of membership cards received in various names" by June 20.

The move targeting potential bribery attempts is the latest in the watchdog's fight against corruption.

"Those cards are small, but they point to profligacy and reflect a major issue concerning officials' style," said Wang Qishan, secretary of the CCDI, at a Monday meeting promoting the campaign.

According to Wang Yukai, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Governance, officials' acceptance of VIP cards is prevalent in certain regions and fields.

"It's not cash, but cardholders can enjoy all kinds of benefits and privileges," Wang said. "Whoever offers those cards to officials must have their own motivations."

Describing the move as a concrete method of "self-cleansing," Wang Qishan, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, expressed his hope that disciplinary and supervisory officials could deeply understand the meaning of the campaign and rid themselves of every such card by the deadline.

"This campaign is not that high-standard. It's necessary and feasible, and everybody should be able to do it," Wang Qishan said, welcoming supervision from both within the Party and from the public.

Wang Qishan revealed that the move is a prelude to another campaign that involves education and practices for disciplinary and supervisory officials to strengthen a clean-handed and honest style as well as a sense of service for the people.

"Disciplinary and supervisory officials should maintain the idea that all they urge others to do must be fulfilled by themselves in the first place," he said, urging these officials to bear people in mind and "voluntarily resist all kinds of temptations."

"The work style of disciplinary and supervisory officials directly affects the results of the entire Party's war against corruption. Such a move shows their determination to strengthen discipline and will also intimidate other corrupt officials," Professor Wang Yukai said.