China’s getting a new law to fight corruption, but there’s still no place for lawyers
Xi Jinping promises to do away with interrogation techniques but suspects will still be denied representation
General Secretary Xi Jinping on Wednesday promised to replace a controversial interrogation method used by China’s Communist Party with a new system that would be answerable under the law.
“A national supervision law will be formulated,” he said during his 3½-hour presentation of the party’s five-yearly work report at the opening session of the 19th national congress in Beijing.
“Supervisory commissions will be given responsibilities, powers and means of investigation in accordance with the law [and] the practice of shuanggui will be replaced by detention.”
Under the current shuanggui system, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection has the power to summon and detain without charge any member it suspects of being in breach of party rules and regulations.
In his speech, Xi said corruption was “what the people resent most” and described it as the party’s “greatest threat”.
Beijing would remain committed to its policy of “zero tolerance on corruption” for the next five years, he said, adding that corruption suspects would be pursued regardless of where they chose to hide.
