China’s anti-corruption campaign, spearheaded by President Xi Jinping, has reached a new level of intensity. The nation is witnessing an expansion of its detention network, with over 200 Liuzhi centres established across the country. These facilities play a central role in Xi’s ongoing crackdown on corruption, detaining not only Communist Party members but also public sector figures, including entrepreneurs, school administrators, and healthcare officials.
In this article, we’ll explore how the Liuzhi detention system has evolved, its broadening reach, and the potential human rights concerns that accompany its operation.
What is Liuzhi and How Does it Work?
The Liuzhi detention system has become a cornerstone of Xi Jinping’s efforts to combat corruption within China. This system operates in parallel to the country’s judicial processes, often targeting individuals accused of abusing public power. Unlike conventional detention, those held under Liuzhi can be confined for up to six months without access to legal representation or family visits. The detainees are kept in facilities equipped with 24/7 surveillance, padded cells, and minimal human contact.
This detention system is an upgrade from the former Shuanggui system, which was criticised for its secretive and often brutal nature. While Shuanggui was dismantled in 2018 due to international scrutiny over human rights violations, the Liuzhi system has taken its place, albeit with similar concerns over its lack of transparency.
Who is Targeted by the Liuzhi System?
Initially, Liuzhi was primarily used for investigating Communist Party members. However, as Xi’s anti-corruption campaign expanded, the scope of this detention system broadened. It now targets a wide range of individuals, including:
- Civil servants and local government officials
- Public sector employees, such as school and hospital administrators
- Private sector entrepreneurs accused of bribing officials
For example, well-known businessman Bao Fan and former soccer star Li Tie were recently detained under the Liuzhi system. In fact, more than 127 executives from publicly listed companies have been apprehended in the past two years. The Liuzhi system has proven effective in rooting out corruption, but it has sparked concerns regarding its impact on civil liberties.
The Expansion of Liuzhi Detention Centres
Between 2017 and 2024, China has built, renovated, or expanded at least 218 Liuzhi centres across the country. Local governments are particularly focused on constructing new facilities in regions with significant ethnic minority populations, including areas like Ningxia, home to the Hui Muslim minority.
In Shizuishan, for instance, a 77,000-square-foot detention centre was constructed in 2018. The centre was designed with safety in mind, incorporating padded walls, anti-slip floors, and surveillance systems to reduce incidents of self-harm. But even these measures have not been enough to prevent overcrowding, and plans for further expansions are already underway.
Why Has Liuzhi’s Expansion Become So Critical?
The rapid expansion of the Liuzhi system underscores the Chinese government’s determination to consolidate control and implement its anti-corruption agenda. Xi Jinping’s administration has aimed to eliminate not just corruption, but also any potential rivals. The Liuzhi centres serve as tools to help Xi’s government tighten its grip over various sectors of society, extending far beyond the Communist Party itself.
Critics argue that the system is being abused for political purposes. They believe that Liuzhi allows the government to target political dissidents and entrepreneurs, potentially using false corruption charges to expropriate wealth or punish those seen as threats to Xi’s power.
Moreover, the legal foundations for the Liuzhi system are shaky at best. While interrogations are supposed to be recorded and the process is meant to adhere to “rule of law,” the absence of legal representation, lack of judicial oversight, and prolonged detention periods remain major concerns.
Human Rights Concerns: The Liuzhi System in Practice
There have been numerous allegations of abuse and coercion within the Liuzhi detention centres. According to a former detainee, Chen Jianjun, who was held in a Liuzhi facility for six months in 2022, the conditions were designed to break down the detainees both mentally and physically. He was forced to sit in one position for 18 hours a day, deprived of sleep, and subjected to constant surveillance. The experience left him with hallucinations, mental breakdowns, and extreme weight loss.
A Chinese lawyer who worked with officials after their release from Liuzhi custody noted that detainees frequently suffered from malnutrition and were subjected to torture to extract confessions. In some cases, authorities even detained the spouses and children of suspects to pressure them into cooperating.
Although the government has implemented reforms to standardise the Liuzhi system, it remains outside the judicial process, allowing it to circumvent legal protections for detainees.
The Future of Liuzhi: Legal Reforms or Further Abuse?
A draft amendment to the national supervision law is currently under review by China’s top legislature. The amendment aims to address concerns about abuse within the Liuzhi system by requiring that interrogations be “lawful, civilised, and standardised”. However, it does not grant detainees legal counsel or prohibit the extended detention of up to 16 months in some cases.
This amendment has sparked criticism from legal experts, who argue that it would further entrench a system that already grants excessive powers to investigators. One lawyer from Beijing’s Dacheng law firm warned that the Liuzhi system, in its current form, presents a serious risk of misuse.
Conclusion: Liuzhi as a Tool of Political Control
The Liuzhi detention system has evolved from a method of investigating party members into a tool for Xi Jinping to assert control over the entire country. The system’s expansion and its controversial treatment of detainees have raised serious concerns about its implications for human rights in China. As Xi continues to wield Liuzhi as part of his broader anti-corruption strategy, questions remain about the balance between national security and civil liberties.
The future of Liuzhi and its impact on Chinese society will depend on whether or not legal reforms are implemented to address its inherent flaws. Until then, the system remains a powerful and potentially abusive instrument of control.
Photo credit: The Guardian
