BEIJING - The Communist Party of China's (CPC) counter-corruption agency has vowed zero tolerance for anyone within its ranks who abuse their power, release classified information or seek profits.

Officials who violate the very code of conduct that they have been sworn to uphold will face severe punishment, according to the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI).

Both internal and external inspection, including insight from the public and the media, will play a role in exposing violators, the article said.

The public was keeping a close eye on the discipline watchdog, it said, adding that no group or individual was above supervision.

The CCDI is tasked with safeguarding Party rules and advancing the fight against corruption; it sets the standards and officials should work within, and for, the regulations, it said.

The behavior of some officials had greatly harmed the CCDI's image, the article said, stressing that "officials were not immune" and disciplinary agencies were not above the law.

It was the responsibility of discipline officials to be the yardsticks of discipline and morality, it said.