China should dangle some economic carrots for long-term success of war on corruption
Howard Chao says Beijing should perhaps look to Singapore, where paying top salaries keeps government clean
Even before President Xi Jinping took over, there was vigorous domestic and international agreement that something drastic needed to be done about China's corruption problem. His predecessor Hu Jintao warned in 2012 that it "could prove fatal to the party". Outside of China, pessimists pointed to corruption as a harbinger of the system's ultimate doom.
So the anti-corruption campaign is not surprising, and is receiving widespread support. Xi views it as a life and death struggle for the party and the nation - the most significant political rectification campaign since the Cultural Revolution.
The general buzz seems to be that Xi and his top graft-buster Wang Qishan have clean hands, and thus have the standing to lead the effort. There are many anecdotes about how both go to great lengths to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. Based on the stature and numbers of political leaders they are taking on, it also appears they are willing to run significant personal risk to achieve their goals.
Cynics say the campaign is just a huge political power play cloaked in righteousness. While there is no question that many political opponents will be swept away, there are too many indications that it is about more than power. This regime did not need to antagonise so many high level "tigers" and such a broad swathe of "flies" merely to consolidate its grip.