The Party

The Party: The Secret World of China’s Communist Rulers by Richard McGregor, HarperCollins, 2010. 

Overview: 

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is a parallel system to the official government and is not subject to government law. The CCP is the hidden power behind the governmental structures and the major businesses. CCP actions are reviewable only by its own internal methods. The CCP is not mentioned in the Chinese constitution, except briefly in the preamble.

Greater Personal Freedom: 

After the death of Chairman Mao, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has allowed the Chinese people to have much more freedom in their personal lives. The Party’s permission is no longer required to make changes in: (a) residence, (b) employer, (c) school, (d)personal doctor, (d) marriage, and (e) travel.

Central Organization Department: 

The Central Organization Department is the human resources arm of the CCP. It controls not just to government appointments, but also corporate officials, journalists, and university administrators. This department was modeled on the Soviet Orgburo, which Stalin had used as a power base. The Central Organization Department originated in Yan’an in 1937,  during a period of truce between the CCP and the Nationalists. In  Yan’an, the CCP vetted people by asking them to write down their biographies. The main concern was that the individual be loyal to the Party leaders. Special attention was given to those who had spent time in Nationalist prisons.

Corporations: 

Corporate boards of directors handle financial matters, but the CCP makes personnel decisions. This has created conflicts for Chinese corporations trying to obey international corporate governance standards. So now, directors are allowed to make personnel decisions, but only by choosing among candidates pre-screened by the Party. Corporate officials are rotated among industrial sectors and provinces, to reduce cronyism and to prevent them from developing a power base.

Corruption: 

Corruption is widespread in parts of the economy that have heavy government involvement, such as taxation, customs duties, real estate, and infrastructure. Official salaries are low, so the only way government officials can do well is to accept bribes. Government officials do not solicit bribes; people come to them, bearing gifts.

Shuang Gui (双规) 

Shuang Gui, which means double (or twin) regulation, consists of two steps, one by the CCP and one by the government.

• The first step for government officials suspected of corruption is an investigation by the Party. If found guilty in the investigation by the Party, the official is expelled from the Party, and held over for a formal legal trial.

• In the second step, the accused is tried by a government court of law

Lack of Rights for the Accused

During the first step of investigation (by the CCP):

• the accused can be held in prison up to six months,

• the accused has no right to contact his family,

• the accused has no right to a lawyer.

• the accused is held on the ground floor to prevent a suicide attempt by jumping out a window,

• the accused is subjected to sleep deprivation,

• the accused is subjected to around the clock interrogations. 

June 4, 1989 Tiananmen Square Protests: 

Some People’s Liberation Army officers refused to use force to clear demonstrators out of Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989. For example, General Xu Qinxian was subjected to a court martial because he refused to lead his troops against Tiananmen Square demonstrators. For the 18 months following the June 4 demonstrations, there was a purge of CCP members suspected of being disloyal to the Party, and there was increased supervision of institutions by party political cadres. The CCP has strengthened the People’s Armed Police to use as a tool against future possible demonstrations and riots. Following Tiananmen Square, the CCP became obsessed with the loyalty of PLA officers to the Party. But in recent years the PLA has become less political and more professional.