China to revise oath for public servants

Beijing, Feb. 23: China plans to revise the oath of allegiance to the Constitution taken by people in public office to include adjectives of a “great” and “modern” socialist country being envisaged by President Xi Jinping.

The draft revision was submitted to a session of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress ( NPC), the top legislature, for review on Friday.

China introduced oaths for officials in January 2016, based on a legislative decision passed in 2015.

About amendments to the oath of allegiance, Zhang Yong, vice chair of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee said while most parts of the oath remain unchanged, the last phrase is to be changed into “to work for a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful,” ◗ according to the draft.

Mr Zhang said the change was made to align the oath with the development goal envisioned by the ruling Communist Party of China ( CPC) at its 19th National Congress last October, which had endorsed a second term for Xi who also heads the party and the military.

Mr Xi is firming up the one- party rule of the CPC, which has ruled the country since 1949 with an extensive reform process which included massive anti- graft campaign since 2013 during which thousands of party officials have been prosecuted.