CPC 101: Party Admission Oath

Just as the groom and bride need to swear an oath at the wedding to reaffirm their love and commitment for life, a candidate member of the Communist Party of China needs to swear an oath in front of the Party flag.

The admission oath is the commitment a new Party member makes to the Party and the people, it’s also the code of conduct to be strictly followed.

The admission oath has gone through changes over time. The oath used today was stipulated in the 1982 amendment of the Constitution of the Communist Party of China, which set out the general rules for the Party. The current admission oath contains 80 Chinese characters in a few sentences:

“It is my will to join the Communist Party of China”, this means the decision of joining the Party is not imposed, but a political choice from the heart.

“Uphold the Party’s program, observe the provisions of the Party Constitution, fulfill a Party member’s duties, carry out the Party’s decisions, strictly observe Party discipline, guard Party secrets” – these are the basic requirements for a Party member.

“Be loyal to the Party, work hard, fight for communism throughout my life” – this shows that joining the Party is not a decision on a whim, but a lifelong career pursuit.

“Be ready at all times to sacrifice my all for the Party and the people, and never betray the Party”. Here the people are put together with the Party, because for the CPC, the country is its people and the people are the country. The spontaneous support of the people is the greatest foundation of the Communist Party of China in governing state affairs.