Good can drive out the bad

The ongoing swatting of "flies" and hunting of "tigers", the pursuit of both petty and high-ranking corrupt officials, together with most corruption cases being made public, has sent a clear, unambiguous signal that the top leadership will not forgive any official found to be corrupt. The resulting shock wave has been more effective than any persuasion or education, in convincing corrupt officials to give up the illusion they might be lucky and escape being swatted or hunted.

Another common complaint about local governments, namely the failure of officials to fulfill their duties, will also be addressed by the new normal. As the campaign against corruption has continued it has restrained the tendency for graft among officials, but the problem of them refusing to perform their duties persists. For example, while many local government leaders have been avoiding adopting new development programs because they dare not make a personal profit out of them and have to prioritize sustainable development, environmental agencies nationwide still tend to turn a blind eye to polluting industries.

This is what the new normal will prevent. Several times, Xi has called for leading officials to "shoulder their duties", and Premier Li Keqiang has emphasized that implementation is the key to new reform measures. There have been examples of officials being punished for failing to do their duty. This will help the new leadership rally public support and consolidate the legitimacy of the government, because people judge a government by what it has done for them.

The rule of law is the foundation for the new normal. All too often in the past, laws have been reduced to scraps of paper, with government agencies and officials following orders instead of the law. The media has even reported incidents in which the verdict of a local people's court cannot be executed because a leading local official said no.

That has damaged the credibility of the government. Worse, rule of man is an obstacle to reform and will make the new normal unstable - it is hard to imagine the new normal will last long if it is a superior's orders rather than the law that is binding.

The top leadership knows the rule of law is indispensable to the new normal. Xi said that "the Constitution is above all" when he assumed the position of general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee in November 2012. And the fourth plenum of the 18th Communist Party of China Central Committee, which will be held later this month, has already set the rule of law as its theme.

It should be noted that the new normal will not only improve the political environment, it will also produce lasting effects on the other aspects of society. A new political normal and a new social normal are within reach, and together they will create a harmonious society and healthy economy steered by clean and clear governance.

The author is professor and deputy director at the Clean Governance Institute, Beihang University.