Party discipline stricter than law

The Communist Party of China (CPC)'s rules are more strict than the national law.

Zhou Yongkang, the most senior Party official ever to face criminal charges, was expelled from the CPC last week and his case has been passed on to the courts. [Related: Zhou Yongkang arrested, expelled from CPC]

An investigation found that Zhou, a former Standing Committee member of the political bureau of the CPC central committee, seriously violated the Party's political, organizational and confidentiality rules.

In China, Party rules are the law within the CPC. More than 86 million Party members must abide by both the national law and Party rules.

The ruling CPC orders all members to be strict with themselves as they are "vanguard of the Chinese nation." It also deals with anyone who breaks Party rules.

The CPC rules are much more strict than the national law. Party membership means one should always demand high standards and discipline oneself all the time. For example, the CPC does not allow the existence of "naked officials" whose family have moved overseas, to prevent corrupt officials fleeing overseas.

Party members are not allowed to hold lavish banquets and accept costly gifts, according to CPC frugality rules that took effect two years ago.

Immoral behavior, such as adultery, will lead to warnings and punishment for Party members. Last week's statement on Zhou said he "committed adultery with a number of women and traded his power for sex and money."

Adultery is not considered a crime in China, but it is increasingly common in disciplinary punishment within the Party, and has become a key area for graft. The ongoing anti-corruption campaign saw at least 31 officials investigated for alleged adultery, according to people.com.cn.

The anti-corruption campaign is run by the entire legal system, not just the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. "Tigers and flies" are initially investigated by the CPC before being transferred to prosecutors.

Both the internal investigation and judicial procedures are part of China's framework for rule of law. The CPC has rules to regulate graft probes, such as disciplinary inspections.

The authority has so far covered 47 state-owned groups in the previous four rounds of central inspections since the CPC leadership took power in 2012 and has found plenty of evidence of corruption, leading to punishment of wrongdoers. A new round of inspections was launched late last month and was expected to take 30 days.

All these inspections and disciplines must run within the scope of the Constitution, the country's supreme law.