China's high-profile anti-corruption investigations targeted at State-owned enterprises (SOEs) are set to cleanse the commercial giants. But to prevent corruption in those enterprises in the long term, a sounder modern corporate governance regime must be put in place.

The anti-corruption authorities have said they will start a new round of "inspections" in some central ministries and major SOEs. Previous inspections have led to investigations and arrests of a number of senior corporate executives. The list of high-ranking executives of major SOEs in sectors ranging from oil, steel, power and telecommunications to aviation and transportation who have been detained or arrested since 2012 is long.

The latest announcement by the anti-corruption authorities shows that the country's self-purification drive will continue and, apart from government officials, senior managers of SOEs have become the new target of the drive. This reflects the authorities' resolve to root out corruption across the board. Also, it is a response to the public call to solve problems, from unchecked spending to insider control of corporate interests, in some major SOEs.