CPC: 105 years of anti‑corruption and self‑revolution
CPC: 105 years of anti‑corruption and self‑revolution. On the occasion of the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), scholars attribute its remarkable longevity and success largely to its unwavering commitment to self‑revolution — a drive to fight corruption and strengthen clean governance. A party that has survived a century has not only retained power — it has retained trust. And the secret of that trust lies not in ideology, but in discipline. In the ability to clean its own ranks, punish corrupt officials and remind every cadre: you serve the people, not yourself. Today, as China enters its 15th Five‑Year Plan, the party is not celebrating a jubilee — it is continuing its work on itself.
At the Party Spirit Education Centre for Comprehensive and Strict Party Self‑Governance, located in the Beijing Municipal Party School of the CPC, abstract concepts of self‑discipline become tangible through interactive exhibitions. These displays include stories of exemplary cadres alongside cautionary cases of corruption. From its earliest days, the party demanded strict political and organisational discipline. Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the CPC has waged an unprecedented anti‑corruption campaign to ensure that party and government officials at all levels have neither the audacity, the opportunity nor the desire to commit corrupt acts.
Gu Yan, associate professor at the Party School of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the CPC, said: "Guided by the President's instructions and theories, we will unify our thinking, reach consensus, enhance our capabilities and quality, strengthen our modernisation capacity, adjust our thinking and raise our competence to fully achieve the second‑century goal." Official data shows that in 2025, China's disciplinary and supervision authorities filed more than 1 million cases, handing down disciplinary or administrative penalties to 983,000 individuals involved in corruption.
Luo Wendong, secretary of the Party committee of the Institute of Marxism at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, noted: "External oversight and internal self‑discipline work together to preserve the CPC's advanced character and strengthen the party's position as the core leadership and its long‑term governance. Surveys conducted by Harvard's Kennedy School in China over more than a decade show that the Chinese people's satisfaction with the government has consistently remained above 90 percent." International observers have also noted the CPC's vigorous anti‑corruption efforts. David Ferguson, honorary chief English editor of the Foreign Languages Press under China International Communications Group, said: "I would highlight three points that distinguish China's campaign. First, it is systematic. Second, it targets 'tigers and flies'. Those who cause the most trouble for ordinary people are pursued. And the third important difference is authenticity. If you look at the cases, some of the most serious offenders have been dealt with, and in some cases sentenced to death."
The CPC, founded in 1921, now has over 99 million members. The anti‑corruption campaign launched in 2012 has become one of the largest in China's history. The phrase "tigers and flies" refers to punishing both senior officials ("tigers") and low‑level corrupt officials ("flies"). Harvard University surveys do indeed show high levels of public trust in the Chinese government, often linked to the effectiveness of anti‑corruption measures. As China enters the 15th Five‑Year Plan (2026–2030), the top leadership has called for more refined and effective efforts to constrain power through institutional frameworks, and for a clearer and more resolute push against corruption.
As reported by CCTV+, in the year of its 105th anniversary, the CPC continues to strengthen discipline and fight corruption to ensure a solid guarantee for achieving the goals of the new five‑year period.
