Impacts of the 8-Point Decisions on China’s body polity

By Hammeed M. Bello, PhD

China is a good case study in zero-tolerance for corruption, at least as a deliberate policy of the governing party, the Communist Party of China, CPC. Official corruption, just as many other social vices, is treated as social anomaly that must be fought head-on to instill discipline in governance as well as in public life.

Corruption is met either with capital punishment, or it attracts the most severe consequences ranging from life sentence, confiscation of property to even the worst case scenario of death sentence, depending on the scope or gravity of the offence. And the essence as it were is to discourage corrupt practices as much as possible in public life. This no-nonsense policy on corruption, as well as on other aspects of public and business life including in party conduct accounts, in part, for the progress China has made locally, and by extension on the world stage at the bilateral and multilateral levels.

Currently, China is undoubtedly a global leader next only to the United States of America in GDP and trade volume. It is a leading manufacturing centre of the world and  is championing alternative ideas on global governance to make the world more peaceful, more prosperous within the context of multilateralism and free trade. For this, China has earned respect from many partners and associates especially with its key role in driving geopolitical cooperation among the Global South countries.

This feat is not achieved by accident. It could not have been achieved if China had not unified the home front socially, economically and politically by setting standards for governance in pursuit of ideologies based on consensus to drive growth in furtherance of modernization, social, economic and political harmony.

To vigorously pursue and achieve those goals, the CPC had spelt out Eight-point rules and regulations around efficiency, frugality and anti-corruption. The eight-point decisions are a set of rules and regulations that set the agenda for the Party’s leadership for governance conduct or rules that will help facilitate the CPC’s advancement and modernization for a new era.

According to reports, the eight-point decision introduced by the central leadership of the Communist Party of China has enhanced the Party’s governance, won the people’s trust and support for the Party as well as provided reference for other countries, a Pakistani senator was quoted as saying.

“The hallmark of President Xi Jinping’s leadership has been decisive action of a doer who delivers,” said Mushahid Hussain Sayed, chairman of the Pakistan-China Institute.

Sayed, also co-chairman of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties, said that for President Xi, the Party’s good governance is inextricably intertwined with holding officials, high or low, accountable, combating corruption and providing people-centered development.

He noted that under President Xi’s leadership, China’s international image has been enhanced through improvements in the country’s governance system.

“The CPC and the people of China are now more closely united, with people having greater confidence in their leadership, which has succeeded in promoting substance over semantics, eliminating extravagance, promoting efficiency and slashing formalism and bureaucratic behavior of officials,” he said.

“Most important, the credibility of such governance has been enhanced when the world realizes that China means what it says, as decisions are implemented in a timely manner,” he added.

Sayed also pointed out that the code of conduct provides valuable lessons for other nations in combating corruption and regulating bureaucratic conduct.

“The key underlining principle is that nobody is above the law and violations of the law will not go unpunished, irrespective of the rank and status of officials,” he emphasized.

“Accountability, therefore, is the basis of good governance and efficient administration and President Xi has led by example in this regard.”

Sayed further noted the positive changes brought about by the code of conduct, particularly in curbing extravagance and ensuring that meetings are substantive and purposeful.

After the National Congress of the CPC) in November 2012, the newly elected Central Committee, with President Xi Jinping at the helm, swiftly introduced the Eight-Point Decision to improve party and Government Conduct and Building Closer Ties with the People. According to a publication of the China Insight, that was not just another policy; it is a commitment to clean governance and a direct response to public concerns about officialdom. Xi Jinping himself was noted to have spearheaded this initiative, embodying the spirit of leading by example and setting standards from the top down.

The phrase “leaving footprints on stone, grasping iron with marks” vividly illustrates the leadership’s determination to ensure the decision is not mere words but is implemented with tangible and lasting effect. The China Insight derailed that the action, likened to the historical anecdote of honoring the promise to reward the person who had moved a log to build trust and push forward reform, signaled a profound shift in the Party’s approach and set the stage for a remarkable transformation in the nation’s ethos.

“The strict implementation of the eight-point decision has provided a solid foundation for the historic achievements and transformative changes witnessed in the Party and the nation’s endeavors; significantly promoted progress in China’s political, economic, social, cultural, and national governance

landscapes; and injected powerful energy into the pursuit of building a strong nation and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese modernization.

From a political perspective, the eight-point decision acts also as a “small incision” that has triggered a major overhaul in the comprehensive and strict governance of the party. It has propelled a revolutionary self-purification within the Party ranks, safeguarding and enhancing the Party’s advanced nature and purity, and bolstering its unity and combat readiness. As a result, the Party’s leadership has become more robust and effective.

On the economic front , the eight-point decision has prompted a fundamental change in how public funds and resources are allocated. By curbing extravagance and rent-seeking behaviors, it helps to purify the relationship between government officials and businessmen and fosters a more level playing field. This, in turn, is a powerful driver for promoting high-quality economic development.

Socially, the eight-point decision resonates deeply with the aspirations of both party members and other members of the general public. It has facilitated the resolution of numerous pressing issues of grave concern to the public, and the tangible improvements in official conduct have earned the sincere support of the people, thereby strengthening the social foundation for the Party’s long-term governance.