BEIJING -- A Chinese TV series based on real-life crimes and social issues has become a smash hit with viewers this summer, while also shining a spotlight on Chinese President Xi Jinping's campaign to use the fight against corruption to consolidate his grip on power.
Titled "Crime Crackdown," the 28-episode drama's storyline centers around a former cop who was driven out of the police force after being framed for corruption. Together with a special squad from the Chinese Communist Party, he sets out to expose the crimes of a seedy gangster underworld that has existed under the projective umbrella of corrupt regional government officials, public safety authorities, and law-enforcement.
The drama debuted in August and has been aired by broadcasters including state-owned China Central Television (CCTV). As of Sept. 21, it had been viewed more than 4.9 billion times online.
The show's writers drew on a selection of real-life criminal cases in coordination with the CCP's Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, which oversees China's law enforcement and judiciary.
One episode evokes the case of a man was sentenced to death in Yunnan Province, only to be released back into a life of crime in the underworld.
Another episode deals with the case of a student forced to work in the sex industry, after failing to repay debts owed to an online loan shark.
According to The Beijing News, the CCP commission was involved from the scriptwriting stage and provided guidance throughout the production process.
Cases in the drama are inevitably solved through the sagacious leadership of the special squad chief, and there is no shortage of scenes overtly appealing to viewers with messages such as, "We need your support and cooperation to crack down on the underworld."
With the pivotal National Party Congress slated for autumn of next year, the drama can be seen as a public performance of the results of China's campaign against corruption, even as it shows the Xi administration's aim to consolidate power through a transparent silver screen.
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