Decoding the Communist Party of China

As the CPC marks its 105th anniversary, its approach to national governance and self-governance has won the admiration of an increasingly large audience from around the world, with more and more people seeking to understand the secret behind the remarkable achievements of this century-old party.

On July 1 this year, at the gathering celebrating the 105th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping presented a comprehensive, systematic summary of the outstanding qualities distinguishing the CPC from all other political parties and political forces across six dimensions—its guiding thought, commitment to the people, sense of historic mission, keeping pace with the times, fighting spirit, and commitment to strengthening itself. He identified these qualities as “the key to understanding why the Communist Party of China has been so successful.”

Only by steadfastly pursuing truth can the cause of the Party and the people always advance in the right direction. Only by remaining deeply rooted in the people can the Party retain its unshakable foundation capable of withstanding any storm. Only by courageously shouldering its historic mission can the Party firmly maintain leadership and initiative in advancing its cause. Only by keeping pace with the trends of development can the Party truly remain a pioneer of the times and the backbone of the nation. Only by daring to fight and excelling at its struggle can the Party unite and lead the people from victory to victory. Only by focusing on strengthening itself can the Party preserve its vitality and vigor through revolutionary tempering.

These six defining qualities interact and reinforce one another, together constituting the CPC’s unique political strength. Among them, self-strengthening is the fundamental guarantee that enables it to consistently uphold and put these qualities into practice. Seeking truth, serving the people, fulfilling its mission, staying at the forefront of the times, and carrying on the fight—all these require the Party to be strong and capable. Only through continuously strengthening its capacity to purify, refine, renew, and improve itself can these fine qualities endure over time without fading.

Party members and officials from Rugao City, Jiangsu Province, visit an education center for improving Party conduct and building integrity to reinforce their consciousness as Party members, June 29, 2026. PEOPLE’S DAILY

The Party’s history spanning more than a century has been defined by the CPC’s commitment to self-reform and continual self-strengthening.

During the New-Democratic Revolution (1919-1949), the CPC carried forward its great founding spirit, initiated and advanced the great project of Party development, introduced the principle of strengthening the Party’s ideological foundation, and upheld democratic centralism. It adhered to the three fine styles of conduct, namely combining theory with practice, maintaining close ties with the people, and conducting criticism and self-criticism. It developed the three important tools of the united front, armed struggle, and Party development. It strived to build a national Marxist party of the people that was fully consolidated ideologically, politically, and organizationally.

At the second plenary session of the Seventh CPC Central Committee, which was held in March 1949 shortly before nationwide victory in the War of Liberation (1945-1949), Mao Zedong called on all Party members to remain modest, prudent, and free from arrogance and rashness in their work and to preserve the style of plain living and hard struggle. After the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949, the CPC focused on the major issue of its development in the context of governing, and worked to strengthen the Party and consolidate its leadership in terms of thinking, organization, and conduct. All these strengthened its integrity and the solidarity among its members and built closer ties between the Party and the people.

Following the launch of reform and opening up in 1978, the CPC stressed that to run the country well, it must first run itself well and must do so strictly. Therefore, it focused its efforts on self-strengthening and launched and advanced the great new project of Party development. It continuously sought solutions to two major challenges: improving its leadership and governance, and bolstering its ability to resist corruption, prevent moral decline, and withstand risks.

Since the beginning of the new era in 2012, the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core has steadfastly exercised full and rigorous governance over the Party. It began by formulating and enforcing the central Party leadership’s eight-point decision on improving work conduct, put forward and implemented the general requirements for Party development, and ensured that reinforcing its political foundations serves as the overarching guidance for all other initiatives to strengthen the Party. It has waged an unprecedented campaign against corruption and fundamentally resolved the problems of weak, hollow, and watered-down Party leadership and lax and weak self-governance. In doing so, it has eliminated serious hidden dangers within itself, the country, and the military; significantly boosted its capacity to provide political leadership, give guidance through theory, organize the people, and inspire society; and made the Party stronger than ever.

History convincingly proves that the courage to confront problems head-on and the willingness to correct mistakes are among the CPC’s defining strengths. The CPC has developed a comprehensive and increasingly integrated system of self-governance by reinforcing its ideological foundation, forging its political character, improving its conduct, enforcing discipline, and resolutely combating corruption with the utmost resolve. Through repeated self-examination and self-correction, it has removed institutional weaknesses, strengthened its organizational health, and built the fundamental confidence that has enabled this century-old party to remain steadfast and resilient.

The CPC’s remarkable journey of remaining true to its founding mission and full of vitality for 105 years through trials and hardships stems from its clear understanding that forging good steel requires a good blacksmith. It is also the result of its commitment to constantly examining itself against the demands of the times, maintaining vigilant awareness of risks, improving itself through self-reform, and persevering in long-term self-purification and self-strengthening.

At present, a number of prominent problems within the Party have yet to be fundamentally resolved, while previously addressed problems could re-emerge and new challenges continue to arise. In particular, some Party members and officials have shown signs of complacency, reluctance to press ahead, fear of facing difficulties, passive responses, or even deliberate resistance toward full and rigorous Party self-governance. This has resulted in them lowering standards for themselves and relaxing their commitment to self-cultivation.

Some have lost the drive and determination to take on responsibilities and break new ground. Some have lost sight of their original aspiration, settled into superficial or impractical work ethics, and become detached from the Party’s fundamental purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly. Still others have grown lax in discipline and succumbed to corruption, gradually lowering their standards and abandoning their principles in seemingly minor matters and ultimately falling into violations of Party discipline and the law. There are also those whose abilities are inadequate to meet the evolving demands of new circumstances, leaving them unable to step up and shoulder their responsibilities when confronted with challenging tasks at crucial moments.

A tiny ant hole can bring down a thousand-mile dike, and a small lesion can destroy a towering tree. Problems among Party members and officials may appear to be isolated shortcomings or individual flaws, yet they can undermine the Party’s very foundations and inflict far-reaching damage.

For any Party member or official, a slight relaxation in thinking can lead to far greater lapses in conduct, which will ultimately result in eroded conviction and undisciplined conduct, stunt personal growth, and betray the Party’s trust and cultivation. With respect to strengthening the Party, such failings, if allowed to spread, would inevitably undermine the Party’s cohesion, creativity, and effectiveness, damage its close ties with the people, and ultimately jeopardize both its governing position and the fulfillment of its mission. In advancing the cause of the Party and the country, shortcomings in the conduct, integrity, and competence of Party members and officials will inevitably impede policy implementation, diminish the effectiveness of initiatives that serve the people, and compromise the quality of development, thereby hindering the great endeavor of building a great country and realizing national rejuvenation.

Therefore, exercising full and rigorous self-governance is an ongoing task. It is essential to advance this cause with persistent and relentless efforts, constantly strengthening the Party to preserve its enduring vitality and vigor.

(Originally appeared in Qiushi Journal, Chinese edition, No. 14, 2026)