The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has a myriad of dark secrets within its officialdom, but due to information censorship, ordinary people find it difficult to uncover the truth behind the scenes. Mr. Zhou, a former senior CCP official who escaped to the United States two years ago, recently revealed little-known insider information in an interview with the media of The Epoch Times.
“China is like a large prison. And within that prison, each individual is like a ‘small number’ nested inside the big prison,” Mr. Zhou stated when discussing the living conditions of Chinese people. He emphasized that this lack of freedom applies not only to ordinary citizens but also to CCP officials because “you have no freedom at all.”
Not only are individuals devoid of freedom within the CCP, but they are also required to lie every day. Mr. Zhou revealed that once someone enters the CCP officialdom, they must constantly speak falsehoods, create new terms, and idolize the leadership. Each instance of being forced to lie causes inner turmoil, but falsehoods are considered a fundamental survival skill within the CCP system. Furthermore, officials are obligated to participate in political study sessions weekly and take party knowledge exams monthly.
Before leaving China in 2019, Mr. Zhou was a distinguished retired high-ranking official at the provincial level, having served as the head of a deputy department in a provincial government unit, enjoying privileged treatment. When asked about his reasons for leaving China, he expressed that if there was a glimmer of hope for survival in the country, he would not have left, stating, “I have lost confidence in the future of this country and hope, which is why I dared to leave everything behind and take this step.”
Mr. Zhou also noticed that most of his peers, upon retirement, did not meet a good end: around seventy to eighty percent of officials faced repercussions, including loss of freedom, confiscation of assets, and implications for family and friends.
He believed that the CCP governs through terror, suppression, and intimidation, rather than through the rule of law. The lack of emphasis on legal processes has turned the various levels of CCP’s discipline and supervision commissions into the most powerful departments, similar to the historical concept of the Dongchang, an early imperial Chinese intelligence agency known for its arbitrary arrests and instilling fear. Mr. Zhou indicated that the CCP’s discipline and supervision commissions currently function in a similar manner.
In the past, these commissions primarily oversaw party members and cadre officials, while administrative cadre officials were overseen by supervision commissions. However, with their merger, anyone can now be targeted. Mr. Zhou explained that around 2016, the anticorruption powers of the procuratorate were incorporated into the supervision commissions, leaving the procuratorate only responsible for prosecution without investigative powers.
In cases where provincial party secretaries or other leaders wish to convict someone, they would summon the procuratorate’s chief and the court’s president, informing them of the desired outcome, regardless of the specific operational methods. Those who refuse to comply may face reassignment or even dismissal.
With no oversight or constraints on the discipline and supervision commissions, officials have unrestrained power, which prompts fear among prosecutors, courts, and public security departments. Mr. Zhou cited instances where even a junior staff member from a provincial supervision commission could be received personally by city or county party secretaries.
If higher-ranking officials want to target someone, they simply need to inform the supervision commissions by passing on a note saying, “There have been complaints about this person, please investigate and see if there are any issues.” Mr. Zhou remarked, “Within the next few days, they will arrest you first and then investigate you. In China, larger officials can crush smaller ones, creating a hierarchical system where officials at different levels investigate each other.”
By the end of 2022, there were over 90 million CCP members, with more than 4.7 million cases opened for investigation within the past decade. Mr. Zhou found this data alarming, equating to roughly one investigation for every twenty individuals.
Despite the seemingly stringent measures in place, Mr. Zhou asserted that the CCP’s anti-corruption efforts are not genuine. He questioned why the party does not opt for transparency, such as publicly declaring officials’ assets for citizen and media scrutiny, rather than clandestinely carrying out anticorruption campaigns.
In China’s current system under the CCP, retired officials face the most perilous circumstances. According to Mr. Zhou’s observations, with China’s economic downturn, removing a senior official can potentially save the nation around 30 million yuan. He explained this calculation by breaking down the costs associated with retired senior officials, including their pension and healthcare expenses.
Hence, apprehending a senior official not only cuts an estimated 30 million yuan in expenditure but also results in the confiscation of the official’s assets – ranging from millions to hundreds of millions – and potential repercussions for their children.
Mr. Zhou noted that the approach towards individuals close to retirement has evolved over time. Earlier, if corruption was detected, these individuals would face demotion without imprisonment, but nowadays, harsher penalties are imposed, including imprisonment and retrospective investigations going back twenty to thirty years. He emphasized that the CCP’s motive behind such actions is primarily financial gain.
Officials who lose their power are at risk of becoming easy targets, as they may be investigated at any time once they are perceived as lacking utility. Mr. Zhou reflected on how about seventy to eighty percent of his former colleagues were eventually detained by the CCP after retiring. He mentioned a friend who had retired and thought he was safe from scrutiny for many years, only to be arrested shortly after returning to the mainland.
Fearing for their safety, many officials seek to escape China, but this endeavor is often difficult. “If you lack a passport, there is no way to escape,” Mr. Zhou stated. He compared the repercussions faced by party members attempting to escape – potentially receiving life imprisonment or even the death penalty – to the relatively light sentences faced by ordinary citizens upon interception.
An official from the National Military Commission once mentioned during a party class session attended by Mr. Zhou that many officials are sentenced to death every year, but this information is never disclosed to the public.
Mr. Zhou pointed out that while economic conditions in China are deteriorating, the CCP leadership is indifferent to the citizens’ hardships. He highlighted the stark disparities between the elite and the common people’s living standards, drawing a parallel to North Korea where the ruling class’s lavish lifestyle starkly contrasts the struggles faced by the general population.
In various regions throughout China, including major cities like Beijing and Shanghai, civil servants are experiencing significant pay cuts. To make up for fiscal deficits, CCP officials are resorting to plundering private wealth, targeting accumulated assets in the private sector as lucrative opportunities.
According to Mr. Zhou, several city and county governments in his hometown frequently impose hefty fines on local entrepreneurs, often amounting to billions annually. Entrepreneurs are coerced into paying these fines to secure freedom; those who resist may face extended detention.
He lamented the plight of private business owners under the CCP’s scrutiny, as tax evasion or fraud allegations could lead to severe repercussions, including imprisonment for the entire family. Many entrepreneurs fail to perceive the dangers, even after being warned. Mr. Zhou recounted advising a friend to stay in the United States for career advancement, but upon returning to China, the friend was promptly investigated and remains in custody with no verdict rendered to date. Mr. Zhou highlighted the CCP’s aim to seize his friend’s assets deliberately.
“Those who are wealthy or operate businesses in China still have a minority who hold onto hope for staying in the country. If they do not leave, their assets will be confiscated for public use,” Mr. Zhou remarked, underlining the grim circumstances and the lack of options for individuals in China.
In addition to targeting private business owners, everyday citizens are also vulnerable to adverse consequences under the CCP rule, with their situations often escalating to even worse conditions. Mr. Zhou shared a disturbing practice of local government authorities using fabricated psychiatric evaluations to forcibly demolish properties, enabling designated individuals to assault homeowners without facing legal consequences, even resulting in fatalities.
Mr. Zhou highlighted the bureaucratic hurdles and risks involved in seeking justice for injustices under the CCP system. Despite overcoming multiple obstacles to reach the National Bureau for Letters and Calls, individuals may still face betrayal. If grievances are registered officially, local governments risk losing year-end bonuses, and officials may face disciplinary actions. Consequently, the National Bureau for Letters and Calls may direct local authorities to intercept petitioners. By paying a nominal fee, local officials can close cases and erase records of petitioners seeking assistance, leaving aggrieved individuals with no recourse.
Upon reflecting on the political system under the CCP, Mr. Zhou condemned the party for being an illegal organization that serves minority interest groups through brainwashing, suppression, and intimidation tactics. He asserted, “This system fundamentally lacks merit. The current CCP regime enforces severe governance to compel obedience and subservience.”
In conclusion, the revelations made by Mr. Zhou shed light on the oppressive mechanisms and intricate power play within the CCP officialdom, laying bare the injustices and insidious tactics employed to maintain control and support the elite few at the expense of the common people.