Another drawback of the anti-corruption campaign is that officials swing into action only after a corrupt deal is done (be it bribery or embezzlement). The need, however, is to take measures to prevent corruption.

Although anti-corruption cells are to be found in almost all Party and government departments, enterprises and institutions, as well as social organizations, they are conspicuously absent from some temporary projects and institutions, making it convenient for officials to indulge in corruption. This loophole has to be plugged to ensure the success of the fight against corruption.

Moreover, officials have always relied on leaders' instructions or public outcry to target suspected corrupt officials and enterprises. But such a procedure is not at all conducive to fighting corruption, because only a well-planned and rational - as opposed to ad hoc - campaign can eliminate corruption from the roots.

China's modernization and industrialization process has entered the middle stage, exposing serious problems such as the widening income gap between the rich and the poor. Hence, the authorities have to strengthen their fight against corruption, ensure fair distribution of social wealth and improve the rule of law. Also, the central and local authorities should devise different strategies to fight corruption given the difference in the nature of corruption seen at the central and local levels.

Theoretically, the campaign should target corruption of all kinds. But in practice, rationally considering the overall situation and devising specific tactics to deal with different kinds of corruption could yield better results. And, of course, there is need to control the pace of the anti-corruption campaign by deciding the right time to seek public opinions, launch an anti-corruption investigation and release the results of anti-corruption probes.

The author is deputy dean of the School of Government, Beijing Normal University.