Photo: The Party School of the Communist Party of China Central Committee

 The Party School of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee has asked its faculty members to draw profound lessons from the case of Cai Xia, a retired professor from the school, after school authorities announced on Monday to rescind Cai's Party membership and revoke her retirement benefits because she made remarks that damaged the country's reputation and seriously violated the Party's political discipline.

Party organizations at all levels and faculty members at the school should improve their political positions, remain true to their original aspiration and keeps their mission firmly in mind, and maintain a high degree of consistency with the Communist Party of China's Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core in terms of ideology, politics and actions, said He Yiting, a vice president of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, at a meeting held on Monday.

Senior officials from the school and officials from China's top anti-graft agency attended the meeting, at which Cai's case was notified with the aim of warning other teachers at the school to learn the lesson, according to a statement published on the school's official website on Wednesday.

The school committee decided to expel Cai from the Party and cancel her retirement benefits in accordance with the regulations on CPC disciplinary actions following a joint investigation by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the CPC and the Party School's discipline committee, the school previously said. 

Cai was known for frequently making remarks that defamed the Party and the country. In 2016, she was criticized by news site gmw.cn for losing her "Party spirit" after she expressed support for former property tycoon Ren Zhiqiang, who is known for his aggressive remarks online. In July, Ren was expelled from the Party for serious violations of discipline and law.

He pointed out that the serious handling of Cai's violations fully demonstrated the school's firm determination of comprehensively governing the Party and the school with strict discipline. The school is the Party's political organ and its faculty members are the spokesperson of the Party's image. 

He required all faculty members at the school to strictly abide by the Party's political discipline and rules. They are prohibited from spreading comments against the Party's theories and policies, from making and spreading political rumors and tarnishing the image of the Party and the country, and from participating in any kind of illegal organizations and activities. 

Faculty members of the school  are required to strictly follow the procedures of applying for approval for going abroad for private purposes, and truthfully report their personal affairs. 

"We will guide Party members, officials and faculty members to spread positive energy, and take a clear-cut stand against and resist all kinds of erroneous views," He said.