China’s top discipline watchdog is now conducting face-to-face interviews to crack down on corrupt officials as President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption drive continues.
According to the Global Times, representatives of the Communist Party of China's (CPC) Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) are talking to suspected violators in the country's local government.
"I didn't do that!" is a common line alias Li Lijuan (pseudonym) has been saying to the CCDI after she was put into hot water when the watchdog received a tip that she had been violating the Party's disciplinary rules.
The 30-minute interviews are meant to probe wrongdoings and to warn officials about the consequences of such deeds.
"When such interviews are conducted, especially when they are part of an investigation, it is a time for the interviewee to show his or her loyalty to the Party by telling the truth," explained Professor Fu Siming of the CPC Central Committee's Party School.
According to Fu, those who do not cooperate are faced with severe disciplinary measures like "shuanggui," which literally means "double-designation."
Liu, who was given a pseudonym to hide her identity, said she had a terrible time during the "interview" which left her sleepless that night.
"I still remember it clearly, as it's the first time the Party had a talk with me not on my accomplishments or promotion, but for a 'negative warning,'" she said.
After much pondering, Liu said she realized that she did receive gifts and money during special occasions during the course of her service in the government.
China's long-running anti-corruption campaign was meant to punish all officials from both the private sector and the government, which is why it has been given the nickname "Catching Tigers and Flies."
According to the China File's visualization of the drive, Xi's campaign has already ensnared a total of 174 tigers and 1,506 flies.