China approved amended criminal law to stop corruption

China amended its criminal law on Friday to punish those found bribing officials as part of an anti-corruption campaign. A few days ago, President Xi Jinping had appealed to the people to maintain personal integrity in the Communist Party (CPC) meeting.

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) approved the amended crime law. The NPC is China's top legislature. This amended law will be effective from March 1. It said those found repeatedly offering bribes to multiple individuals or parties involved in major national schemes should be punished severely.

The law states that those who bribe employees of supervisory, administrative or judicial departments, or pay bribes in areas such as environment, finance, security production, medicine and food, social insurance, rescue relief, education or healthcare, They will also have to face serious punishment.

On December 4, President Xi warned senior ruling Communist Party officials to maintain personal integrity. Jinping had asked officials to set strict rules to keep relatives away from corruption and avoid blindly following foreign examples and careless actions.

Xi had said, members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee should strictly enforce the necessary laws according to Marxist standards and set an example in maintaining the Party's integrity and self-discipline.

He further said, when it comes to anti-corruption efforts, they (senior CPC officials) should set strict rules for their family members, relatives and employees around them. Xi is the only Chinese leader after party founder Mao Zedong to remain in power for a third consecutive term. He is known to have remained in power like Mao Zedong. Apart from the President, Xi is also the head of the CPC and the army.

Navy Commander Jun appointed as new Defense Minister
China today appointed Navy Commander General Dong Jun as the new Defense Minister, two months after dismissing General Li Shangfu. The NPC confirmed Li's expulsion in October. Jun's appointment has been approved by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

According to Chinese state media, Dong has served in all major naval divisions of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Before becoming the navy's top commander in 2021, he served in the Northern Fleet. Now the Russian Navy is playing an important role in joint exercises with the Eastern Fleet.