Xi Jinping delivering a speech at the fourth plenary session of the 20th CCDI of the CPC on January 6. (Source: Xinhua)
Executive Summary:
The PLA followed the overall disciplinary work of the Chinese Communist Party to promote the “all-around battle” against corruption.
The “all-around battle” against corruption includes strengthening vertical control and enhancing horizontal coordination. The former focuses on centralizing power while delegating responsibility, and the latter aims to expand the reach and power of disciplinary work.
By expanding the reach of disciplinary work in the military and further tightening control over the disciplinary system, Xi Jinping is taking another step to strengthen his control over all aspects of the PLA’s operations.
In late April, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) held its annual training session for newly appointed discipline inspection committee secretaries and supervisory committee directors at the military corps level and above (全军军级以上单位新任纪委书记监委主任培训班). This session aimed to help senior military officers responsible for maintaining discipline better understand their responsibilities and the expectations of their superiors regarding disciplinary work. Given that this training event took place after Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission He Weidong (何卫东) was reportedly put under investigation and Deputy Secretary of the Military Discipline Commission Tang Yong (唐勇) was dismissed, it may reveal recent shortcomings in the PLA’s disciplinary system and the Party’s efforts to address these issues (China Brief, February 14; April 11).
A new emphasis in this year’s disciplinary work is the “all-around battle” (总体战) against corruption (Xinhua, January 6; Xinhua English, January 6). The phrase was mentioned during the plenary meeting of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), the expanded meeting of the Central Military Commission Discipline Inspection Commission, and the training session for key PLA disciplinary officials in 2025. It signals a new phase in Xi’s efforts to exercise oversight of the military as he attempts to construct a loyal and operationally ready force.
‘All-Around Battle’ Focuses on Unified Leadership and Integrated Management
The “all-around battle” against corruption has now become a key focus of disciplinary work. In recent years, the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) main disciplinary meetings have opted for alternative terms like “tough battle” (攻坚战) and “protracted battle” (持久战) to describe the anti-corruption campaign. CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping used these terms in CCDI plenary meetings in 2015, 2017, and 2022, and they were also included in the 20th Party Congress report in 2022. None of these mentioned the “all-around battle” (Party Members Net, January 13, 2015; January 6, 2017; January 18, 2022; Xinhua, October 25, 2022
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