Ling's trial shows Party's resolve to cleanup its act

Ling Jihua, the former vice chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, attends a meeting during this 2013 file photo. [Photo/Agencies]

The First Intermediate People's Court of Tianjin Municipality sentenced Ling Jihua, the former deputy head of China's national political advisory body, to life imprisonment on Monday, after he was found guilty of taking bribes, illegally obtaining State secrets and abusing power. The case shows the commitment and determination of the ruling Party to advance the rule of law. Xinhua News Agency filed an article from People's Daily on Monday:

The entire process of Ling's trial, from investigation to sentencing, was handled in accordance with the law.

Ling was sentenced to life imprisonment after he was found guilty of accepting bribes－both personally and through his family－totaling over 77 million yuan ($11.6 million).

His trial demonstrates that the anti-corruption campaign is being conducted based on facts and the law, and that those who violate the law and Party rules, no matter how senior their positions, will be punished accordingly.

The Communist Party of China must be managed and governed in a strict manner as it has over 88 million members and rules a country with a population of 1.3 billion people.

All Party members should learn the lessons from Ling's case, and exercise their power in line with Party discipline and the law, and restrain their family members or staff from taking advantage of their connections to power.

A clean party with strict discipline and a clean working style is, and will always be, invincible.