Since ascending to power in 2012, Xi Jinping has waged a relentless anti-corruption campaign, reshaping China’s governance landscape. This sweeping initiative has not only targeted corrupt officials but has also consolidated Xi’s authority over the Communist Party, the military, and, increasingly, the broader public sector. Recent investigations reveal the establishment of more than 200 specialized detention facilities nationwide, underscoring the systemic and institutionalized nature of this crackdown.
From “Shuanggui” to “Liuzhi”: Evolution of a Fearsome System
For decades, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) utilized a secretive detention system, “shuanggui,” to investigate Party members accused of corruption. This method, criticized for its lack of legal oversight and reports of torture, was officially abolished in 2018. However, rather than dismantling the framework, Xi Jinping replaced it with “liuzhi” (retention in custody), codified under the National Supervision Law and overseen by the newly established National Supervisory Commission (NSC).
Unlike its predecessor, liuzhi extends its reach beyond the Communist Party’s 99-million members to anyone exercising “public power,” including civil servants, hospital administrators, school officials, and even private entrepreneurs. This broader scope has significantly increased the number of detainees and led to the construction of new detention facilities designed to standardize and regulate the process.
Inside the Liuzhi Detention Centers
Documents detailing the construction of these facilities provide a chilling glimpse into their inner workings. Detention cells, interrogation rooms, and infirmaries are equipped with padded walls, rounded furniture, and anti-suicide features, reflecting efforts to prevent detainee self-harm. However, these measures do little to address the reports of abuse and forced confessions emerging from liuzhi custody.
Lawyers and former detainees have described harrowing experiences, including prolonged periods of immobility, sleep deprivation, and minimal food rations. Detainees are often subjected to intense psychological pressure, with some reporting hallucinations and severe physical deterioration.
The system also employs tactics to increase compliance, such as detaining spouses or threatening to interrogate children. Such methods raise serious ethical and legal concerns, even as officials tout liuzhi as a step toward the “rule of law” in anti-corruption work.
Expanding the Scope: Targeting Society
The liuzhi system has been weaponized to maintain control over a wide array of sectors, from state-owned enterprises to private businesses. High-profile cases include Bao Fan, a billionaire investment banker, and Li Tie, a former soccer star, both of whom faced lengthy detentions under the system.
State media portrays liuzhi as a necessary tool to combat systemic abuse in China’s public sector, such as bribery and embezzlement. However, critics argue that it represents the Communist Party’s tightening grip over society under Xi Jinping, who is widely regarded as the most authoritarian leader in China in decades.
Legal Framework or Veil of Legality?
Despite being enshrined in law, liuzhi operates outside the judicial system, denying detainees access to legal counsel and independent oversight. Amendments to the National Supervision Law have proposed extending detention periods, sparking backlash from legal experts who warn of heightened risks of abuse and coerced confessions.
A 2023 proposal would allow liuzhi detentions to extend up to 16 months under certain conditions, prompting concerns from lawyers and scholars. Critics argue that prolonged detentions erode detainees’ physical and mental resilience, undermining the credibility of confessions and legal proceedings.
A Double-Edged Sword
While authorities hail the liuzhi system as an effective anti-corruption measure, its implementation has raised questions about human rights, due process, and the Party’s broader agenda. The transition from shuanggui to liuzhi may have introduced some regulatory elements, but the underlying issues of unchecked power and lack of transparency remain.
As Xi Jinping continues to consolidate control, the expansion of liuzhi underscores a broader trend: the institutionalization of fear and coercion as tools to govern not only Party members but society at large.
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