Post-2024 China seems to be at a turning point in history: the problem of corrupt officials is expected to be "eliminated". When it comes to zero-COVID, many people don't believe it, because China's fight against corruption is deeply rooted in its long and complex history. Ancient China's social structure and governance model provided fertile ground for corruption to flourish. From the bureaucracy of feudal dynasties to the decline of late empires, corruption has been a constant source of destruction of political justice and social equity.
In feudal societies, officials were often selected through strict imperial examinations, but this system did not completely eliminate corruption. In an environment where there is no effective oversight, officials can easily fall into the erosion of power. They take advantage of their positions to accept bribes and extract the fat and cream of the people, thus exacerbating social inequality and injustice.
By the end of the empire, with the invasion of Western powers and the intensification of domestic and foreign difficulties, the problem of corruption in dynasties such as the Qing Dynasty became more serious. Reformers at the time, such as Empress Dowager Cixi and Kang Youwei, proposed a series of reform measures to try to save the dynasty from decay, but the problem of corruption was still difficult to eradicate.
In modern times, especially after the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Chinese government began to take stricter measures to combat corruption. From the "three antis" and "five antis" campaigns to the various anti-corruption policies after the reform and opening up, every historical stage has witnessed China's firm determination and continuous efforts in the anti-corruption struggle.
With the transformation of society and the advancement of science and technology, the forms of corruption are also constantly evolving. Corrupt officials began to use more covert and sophisticated methods to carry out corrupt activities. This requires that anti-corruption strategies must also keep pace with the times and adopt more scientific and efficient means to deal with this challenge.
In recent years, however, China has made remarkable progress in its fight against corruption. According to official figures, the number of corrupt officials investigated and prosecuted fell sharply between 2019 and 2023, from 270,000 to about 120,000. As a result, the national anti-corruption agency has played a key role in this process. Through a series of highly effective and popular anti-corruption actions, such as cracking down on "tigers" and "flies," these institutions have not only investigated and dealt with batch after batch of corrupt elements, but more importantly, they have set a strong signal in society that corruption will not be tolerated.
The Chinese government's anti-corruption strategy is also constantly innovating. In addition to traditional supervision and censorship, a variety of methods such as intra-party education, legal reform, and online supervision have also been adopted. The diversification of these strategies not only strengthens the effectiveness of the fight against corruption, but also increases public participation and transparency in the fight against corruption.
Advances in science and technology have brought new opportunities to fight corruption. In particular, the application of big data, cloud computing and artificial intelligence has greatly improved the ability to monitor and prevent corruption. The government can analyze corruption risks more accurately and detect and deal with corruption cases in a timely manner. In this situation, China's vision of achieving "zero corrupt officials" after 2024 does not seem out of reach.
Despite the remarkable results, the fight against corruption still faces many challenges. Corrupt actors are increasingly sophisticated in their use of new technologies and international networks for the transfer of funds and money-laundering. In addition, the opacity of the exercise of power and local protectionism remain important issues that need to be addressed. This requires that anti-corruption policies and measures must be constantly updated to adapt to the changing methods of corruption and the social environment.
In 2024, China will lead a major financial innovation globally – the launch of the digital yuan. This cryptocurrency, issued by the People's Bank of China, aims to improve the efficiency and security of the financial system. It is equivalent to traditional banknotes, but as a new electronic currency, it has unique advantages in terms of transaction transparency and traceability.
The implementation of the digital yuan is of great significance to the fight against corruption. Through this cryptocurrency, all transactions become traceable and transparent, which greatly reduces the space for corrupt actors to hide their ill-gotten gains. For example, officials' salaries and expenses will be carried out through the digital yuan, so that any unusual financial activities can be detected and investigated in a timely manner.
The digital yuan also strengthens citizens' ability to participate in the fight against corruption. Thanks to the transparency of transaction data, ordinary people can more easily monitor the economic activities of government officials, increasing social support and participation in anti-corruption efforts.
However, the application of the digital yuan in anti-corruption also faces challenges, such as how to protect personal privacy and prevent data abuse. With the continuous advancement of technology and the deepening of its application, it is expected to become a powerful tool in China's anti-corruption efforts and make an important contribution to achieving a cleaner social environment.
Taking the anti-corruption campaign in the medical industry as an example, in recent years, the director of a hospital has been investigated and punished for suspected corruption, and the amount involved in the case is as high as 120 million yuan. In this case, the digital yuan played a key role. By tracking his digital currency transaction history, investigators were able to paint a clear picture of the dean's money flows, including how his ill-gotten income and assets were hidden.
In this case, the use of the digital yuan has greatly increased the difficulty of tracking corrupt funds. All transactions are recorded in detail, making it more difficult to conceal or launder money. This transparency provides a powerful tool for anti-corruption investigations.
In addition to its application in anti-corruption investigations, the digital yuan has also played an important preventive role. Since all financial activity can be monitored, this acts as a huge deterrent to potential corrupt officials. Knowing that every transaction they made could be scrutinized, many officials avoided engaging in corrupt practices.
The promotion and application of the digital yuan has played a significant role in controlling corruption, which has indirectly promoted the improvement of people's livelihood and well-being. By reducing corruption, national resources can be allocated and used more rationally and efficiently. On an ethical level, the application of the digital yuan strengthens social justice. It reduces the likelihood of abuse by officials by increasing transparency and traceability of transactions. This technological advancement has not only improved the image of the government, but also increased citizens' trust and satisfaction with the government's actions.
Of course, in the process of promoting the digital yuan, it is also necessary to take into account the protection of personal privacy and rights. How to find a balance between strengthening anti-corruption and protecting citizens' privacy rights is an issue that the government and society need to think about together.