1st Ld-Writethru: Senior leader calls for discipline within anti-graft agencies

China's top discipline inspector Wang Qishan told his commission to improve internal supervision at a symposium held on Wednesday.

Wang, chief of the Communist Party of China's (CPC) Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), said the country still faces a severe and complicated situation in the fight against corruption.

More than 3,400 discipline inspectors nationwide have been punished since the 18th CPC National Congress in late 2012 when the incoming leadership launched a high-profile anti-corruption campaign. Among the 3,400, 14 were from the CCDI.

"Discipline inspection agencies are neither clean nor uncontaminated," said Wang, adding some inspectors had tipped off others.

"The organization should be held accountable for failing to prevent its officials from making mistakes," he said, urging Party leaders to intensify supervision and education of officials and follow the requirement of strictly ruling the Party members.

Wang also answered the question of "who watches the watchdog?"

Internal supervision departments have been set up within the discipline inspection agencies. "Such internal supervision is an initiative by the agencies. Together with the Party and public, the watchdog can be watched well," he said.

"To forge iron, one must be strong oneself, and the inspectors should take the lead in observing discipline and laws," Wang said. "Anyone who is found to have violated the Party's rules will be purged from the agencies." Endi