'Four Comprehensives' Are Not Just Slogans

By John Coulter

Modern America's savviest prophet, Don McLean (American Pie), patriotic and positive, said, "I really don't like the term the 'American Dream' - the problem with my country is that people really do dream too much and now they're getting a very rude awakening."

In contrast, the recent launch of the "Four Comprehensives" - comprehensive prosperity, reform, law and party discipline - will put the Chinese Dream on the road to reality.

President Xi Jinping alluded to classic literature in his launch of this coordinated attack, pairing reform and law as "two wings of a bird, a pair of wagon wheels" because they so obviously complement each other. It may be appropriate then to say the set of "Four Comprehensives" is like a four - wheeled vehicle.

Analysis of what is already being done in the four areas shows astounding results. Party discipline, rule of law and reforms have come together in the campaign against corruption to put the skids under the acquiring of ill-gotten gains.

While it is the netting of "tigers", or high-level officials, that has made the headlines, the repercussions have shuddered down to bribe-tainted businesses that have been mentioned in court cases. For instance, Macao gambling's losing streak shows what comprehensiveness means.

Only with the comprehensive deepening of reform, as well as the law and party discipline, can a fairer society be established.

China can well be proud of its Confucian traditions. In old China, the official had to be trusted, and was inculcated to be trustworthy and honorable. It proved at some times of grand civilization to be the core of civility. In modern China, the ideal of honor and trust residing more in an individual is anachronistic.

In modern China it is the sad reality that few officials are patriotic and loyal to the cause. It is not just that a tiny percentage of officials solely responsible for misappropriating funds and misusing their power are "bad apples". Over decades, awareness of the possibility of "raiding the vault" has led to temptation becoming endemic.

For example, it's necessary to evolve a mechanism of double check, double approval, allowing "the guy with the key" to be able to retort to suggestions of mismanaging funds, "the other guy with the other key is not here."

An ethos needs to be established where it is standard operating procedure to crosscheck accounts. This is not a questioning of personal honor; it is in-built in a healthy robust environment.

Therefore, the "Four Comprehensives" of prosperity, reform, rule of law and party discipline are coherent. The last three put power in cage with crosscheck and spot check, which will help ensure a fairer sharing of the fruits of development. Only with rule of law and the strengthening Party discipline can the reform be truly deepened and eventually a moderately prosperous society be established. "Comprehensive" is the key word for China's near future.

The author is an Australian researcher collaborating with Chinese academic and commercial institutions.

Source: China Daily