This is basically rule number one in the autocrat’s handbook: Rule something as illegal but make it necessary (e.g. give your public servants a near-zero salary, making them dependent on taking bribes to live). Then at any point the leaders have the legal grounds to arrest whoever they want for ‘corruption’. It’s a very common tactic.
China always accepts corruption, it’s just only if you’re in the ruling faction.
Authoritarians love using corruption to crack down on political opponents.
They’re not accepting it from the Generals who they just purged.
This is basically rule number one in the autocrat’s handbook: Rule something as illegal but make it necessary (e.g. give your public servants a near-zero salary, making them dependent on taking bribes to live). Then at any point the leaders have the legal grounds to arrest whoever they want for ‘corruption’. It’s a very common tactic.