Beijing Review: Clear Rules, Consistent Adherence

BEIJING, Oct. 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- "To know what is level and straight, one must use a plumb line; to know what is square or round, one must use a ruler and a compass." This ancient line, drawn from The Annals of Lu Buwei (Lushi Chunqiu), compiled by late Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.) statesman Lu Buwei, underscores the importance of following established rules and standards.

On January 13, 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping, also General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, cited this line at the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. He used it to stress the need for full and rigorous Party self-governance, as well as the importance of strict observance of political discipline and rules.

Effective governance depends on clear rules and consistent adherence to them. As the world's largest Marxist governing party, the CPC recognizes that effective leadership starts with strong self-discipline.

To govern both itself and a massive country of more than 1.4 billion people, the CPC must first establish clear internal standards. Only then can it earn greater public trust and support. From October 26 to 29, the 20th CPC Central Committee convened its fifth plenary session in Beijing, with a focus on persevering with full and rigorous Party self-governance.

Why does this matter now? This year is the beginning of China's 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30). Achieving the goals outlined in the plan will require Party organizations to mobilize their members and rally broader public support. Weak discipline and unchecked corruption could divert the plan from its intended course and waste public funds, ultimately hindering the achievement of its key objectives.

Only by advancing full and rigorous Party self-governance and ensuring that government officials at all levels exercise power properly can these officials, many of whom are Party members, be fully committed to transforming the plan's goals into tangible results.

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, the Party has continued to refine its system of internal regulations, so that officials dare not be corrupt for fear of severe punishment, cannot be corrupt because of robust institutional safeguards and do not want to be corrupt thanks to greater awareness. The aim is to ensure that power is subject to effective oversight and exercised within an established institutional framework.

Among the Party's disciplinary standards, political discipline, which safeguards the political integrity of its members, comes first. Regardless of their rank or position, all Party members must honor their commitments to the Party and the people, match their words with deeds and never place themselves above Party rules.

The Party Constitution serves as the CPC's general charter, while Party discipline sets out the standards that must be strictly observed. Together, these rules provide the framework that enables the Party to act as one.

Only a ruling party that exercises power within established bounds and lives up to its promises can earn the trust of the people and govern a country effectively. This emphasis on rules extends beyond domestic governance to relations between nations.

The CPC's approach to rule-based self-governance has also shaped China's approach to international relations: China has consistently called for upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and treating all countries as equals, regardless of their size or strength; China advocates the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits; and it has always been committed to promoting peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation among countries within a universally acknowledged framework.

Whether within a political party or across the international community, without clear standards, there can be no distinction between right and wrong; without respect for rules, there can be no lasting order.

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SOURCE Beijing Review