In order to distort and deny the achievements in the fight against corruption and negativity under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, hostile forces have tried their best to propagate the thesis that "one-party regime is impotent against corruption”(!), which is totally wrong and needs to be rejected.

Over the years, with the viewpoint of "no safe zone, no exception in the fight against corruption", our Party and State have adopted many policies and solutions to promote this struggle. With the spirit of resoluteness, perseverance, publicity and transparency, the work of preventing and combating corruption and negativity has been carried out in a methodical manner, achieving positive results.

However, implementing their subversive plots against Vietnam, hostile forces have taken advantage of social networks and media channels that are not friendly with Vietnam to spread misinformation and distort the anti-corruption situation in our country. On the one hand, they believe that the current anti-corruption activities of the Party and State of Vietnam are "just for demagogy", or that "the Communist Party of Vietnam is not really determined to fight corruption"(!). On the other hand, given the results of anti-corruption in the past, many party organisations, officials, and members were disciplined or penalised for corruption, they said that "corruption is a product of the political regime in Vietnam”(!) and “The more Vietnam fights corruption, the more rampant it becomes, because it is a chronic disease of the one-party political system”(!). Thereby, they called for a change in political institutions and the exercise of political pluralism to combat corruption. These arguments are really dangerous because they can easily make people think that corruption is associated with the socialist political system and caused by the one-party regime, thereby, weakening the people's confidence in the Party's leadership, in the path of socialism, promoting "self-evolution" and "self-transformation" among cadres and party members, and causing political instability in society.

It should be affirmed unequivocally that the argument that corruption is a "chronic disease" of the socialist regime and the one-party regime and that the one-party regime cannot counter corruption is completely wrong both in theory and practice. Theoretically, corruption is intrinsic to power. Where there is power, there is a risk of corruption, once the power is abused. Corruption is the "disease" of the state, caused when the state power is manipulated and abused. Once a state exists, corruption remains, regardless of whether the state is socialist or capitalist, following a multi-party or one-party political system. On the other hand, if power is strictly controlled with a synchronous and advanced management and prevention mechanism, power will not be abused, and corruption will be controlled and minimised. Therefore, one-party rule is not the cause of corruption and it is not impossible to counter corruption. Practically, corruption does exist in multi-party capitalist countries. Even some state leaders of those countries are accused of corruption. That is why the Transparency International (TI) annually publishes the corruption perception index (CPI) in the public sector, to provide an overview of the relative corruption levels of 180 countries and territories, most of which follow the capitalist political system and the multi-party regime. Looking at the CPI rankings for 2021 (published in early 2022), it is clear that corruption is apparent in every country, differing only in severity, because no country achieved a score of 100 (ie. no corruption). 

The reality in our country also shows that, right from the inception of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, President Ho Chi Minh resolutely condemned the abuse of state power among many officials. He considered embezzlement and corruption as "internal enemies". He wrote: "Embezzlement, waste and bureaucracy are the enemies of the people, the army and the Government". He requested that: "fighting embezzlement, waste and bureaucracy is as important and urgent as fighting the enemy on the battlefield". As the ruling Party, throughout the process of leading the cause of national liberation, construction and defence of the Fatherland, our Party has never disregarded the task of fighting corruption and negativity. At the 7th National Congress, our Party affirmed that corruption and negativity are one of the four dangers threatening the survival of the regime and hindering the country's development, which must be drastically eliminated. In order to make a breakthrough in the fight against corruption, the 5th Plenum of the Party Central Committee (11th tenure) decided to establish the Central Steering Committee on anti-corruption under the Politburo led by the General Secretary. With that mechanism, the work of anti-corruption has been led, directed and organised in a methodical, drastic, and synchronous manner, affirming the strong will of our Party, State and people in this struggle with the spirit of "no forbidden zone, no exception, no matter who that person is and without pressure from any individual".

In order to overcome the loopholes and inadequacies that previously gave rise to negativity and corruption, our Party and State have taken very methodical steps by promulgating and implementing many guidelines and regulations of the Party, the State's legal documents on the prevention and combat of corruption and negativity, aiming to put power under the control of the mechanism. The work of detecting and dealing with corruption has been led, directed and implemented in a drastic, public and transparent manner. According to the summary of the Central Steering Committee for Anti-corruption, in the period between 2012 and 2022, the Party committees and inspection committees at all levels have penalised 2,740 party organisations, more than 167,700 officials and party members of which 7,390 party members were disciplined for corruption; disciplined 170 cadres under the central management, including 04 Politburo members, former Politburo members; 29 members of the Party Central Committee and former members of the Party Central Committee; 50 generals of the armed forces. From the beginning of the 13th National Party Congress to June 2022, 50 cadres under the management of the Party Central Committee were disciplined (four times higher than that of the 11th term and nearly half of those of the 12th tenure); in which, there are 08 members of the Party Central Committee and former members of the Party Central Committee, 20 officers of general ranks. Anti-corruption activities have been gradually expanded to include the non-state sector. As a result, corruption has been gradually curbed and prevented, making an important contribution to maintaining political stability, socio-economic development, and strengthening the confidence of cadres, party members and the people in our Party and State.

These specific results have brought about a strong positive and spillover effect throughout the society, which is widely supported and appreciated by cadres, party members and people. At the same time, it is a convincing evidence refuting all distortions and sabotage of hostile forces. This is evidenced by the fact that 93% of people questioned in a social opinion survey conducted by the Central Propaganda Commission over the past time, expressed confidence in the Party's leadership in the fight against corruption. Vietnam's fight against corruption and negativity has also received recognition and appreciation from the international community. According to the reports of Transparency International, Vietnam has increased by more than 30 places in the CPI index for the past decade. In 2021, it increased by 3 places in the ranking compared to 2020. The National Contact of International Transparency in Vietnam, namely Towards Transparency (TT) also affirmed that: “In recent years, Vietnam has achieved remarkable results in anti-corruption thanks to the great efforts of the Party and the Government". Before the breakthrough results in the fight against corruption and negativity of Vietnam, representatives of many foreign-owned enterprises in Vietnam also had positive assessments. Mr. Thomas Bo Pedersen, Managing Director at Mascot International Vietnam and Laos commented: “This shows that the Party and Government are very serious in fighting corruption and negativity and do it in a systematic way. I think this move is right and gives me hope that corruption and negativity will not take place”. Mr. Kenneth M Atkinson, Chairman of the British Chambers of Commerce Vietnam (BritCham Vietnam) emphasised: These strong actions by Vietnamese anti-corruption actions are extremely welcome, especially with cases involving high-ranking officials. This can be viewed as a positive move and hopefully will be sustained”.

Corruption is a social phenomenon, associated with state power, so it is impossible that corruption can be eradicated in a short time. This is recognised by the whole world. In our country, although the fight against corruption and negativity in the coming time will still face many difficulties and challenges, but with strong will, determination and responsibility; with the "non-stop" spirit as directed by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong; with the efforts and unanimity of the entire Party, people and army, our fight against corruption and negative phenomena will surely achieve even better results. Corruption and negativity will definitely be prevented and repelled. The false accusations that "our Party is by no means determined to fight corruption", or "the one-party regime cannot fight corruption" will no longer stand.

NGUYEN NGOC HOI