Party watchdog to target more 'flies'

BEIJING - The Communist Party of China's (CPC) discipline watchdog will target more corrupt low-level officials in 2015, according to an article published on its website on Sunday.

In the article, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) pledged to "seek innovation with disciplinary inspection agencies below county level" and investigate more "flies", Chinese political rhetoric for corrupt minor officials.

Another article published on the CCDI's website on Saturday also vowed harsh punishments for those found guilty.

"The harm of 'flies'... is no less than that of 'tigers'," it said, the latter term referring to major corrupt officials.

Corruption at grassroots levels directly harms the immediate interests of the public and undermines the image of the CPC and the government. Such problems, low-profile as they may be, must not be tolerated, Saturday's article said.

"What is more shocking is that some of the 'flies' even have the appetite of a 'tiger'," it went on.

Saturday's article also stressed that disciplinary inspectors at grassroots levels should be diligent in practicing their duties and that public supervision should also be encouraged.