No matter who is sitting on the throne, the old adage -that absolute power corrupts absolutely - still rings true. China can its utmost to ferret out and eradicate corruption, but until comprehensive constitutional reform is carried out to implement full democracy and the rule of law along with separation of powers and checks and balances, as well as direct election of the heads of the executive, legislative, judicial and procuratorial branches of government, democracy in China will never amount to anything more than what Xi Jinping has called "rights confined in a birdcage under order." For more, please see the Charter for Permanent Peace and Development.