Xi warns Communist Party officials of accountability for lapses in duty

Xi Jinping has warned Communist Party officials that failure in duty will invite accountability. The message reinforces his anti-corruption drive as China faces economic strain.Image used for representational purposes onlyChinese President Xi Jinping has issued a fresh warning to officials of the ruling Communist Party, saying those who do not fulfil their duties must be held accountable, according to state media reports on Monday.Xi made the remarks in an article on the Communist Party of China’s self-governance. State-run Xinhua news agency carried excerpts and said the full article will be published on Tuesday. In it, Xi said, "Power must be matched by responsibility, and those who fail to fulfil their duties must be held accountable."He called for a targeted and well-conceived accountability mechanism to ensure that responsibility for the party’s self-governance is fully carried out. Xi, who also heads the party and the military, said party organisations and leading officials, especially chief officials, bear primary responsibility for exercising full and rigorous self-governance in their localities or departments.He also said leading officials at all levels should strictly fulfil their responsibilities and promote upright conduct. The warning comes amid Xi’s anti-corruption campaign, which began after he took power in 2012. Thousands of civil and military officials have been removed or punished under the continuing drive. The latest message also comes as China deals with a prolonged economic slowdown. China’s Gross Domestic Product eased to 4.3 per cent in the second quarter, the weakest quarterly growth since late 2022, down from five per cent in the first quarter.Xi, 73, is in an unprecedented third term after being designated the party’s core leader. His predecessors stepped down after two five-year terms under an established convention. He is widely expected to seek a fourth term next year at the party’s once-in-five-years congress. Overall, Xi’s article underlined tighter accountability within the Communist Party, while repeating that senior officials must take responsibility for governance and conduct at a time of economic strain in China.With PTI Inputs- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Aug 31, 2026 18:24 IST