Ahead of the party congress, President Xi Jinping has said that "serious potential dangers" to China, the ruling Communist Party and the country's military have been "rooted out" during his decade-long tenure. Since he took over the party in 2012, more than hundred thousand officials, including over 50 top military officials, were punished for corruption in a massive campaign.<br />'' <br />'' As President Xi aims for a third term as China's top leader at the party's next quinquennial national congress this coming autumn, his critics allege that he successfully made use of the anti-graft campaign to consolidate his power. At a meeting of the disciplinary wing of the party on Tuesday, Xi said that continuous efforts must be made to address corruption and misconduct that affect people's immediate interests, to let people feel fairness and justice, a state news agency reported.<br />'' <br />'' His comments came as, unlike his predecessors, Xi is expected to continue to head the CPC, the military and the Presidency for yet another five-year term and perhaps for life. The 2nd five-year term of Xi as the General Secretary of the CPC will end this coming autumn. A key constitutional amendment in 2018 removed the two-term limit for the President to enable Xi to continue in the post.<br />''<br />''Meanwhile, the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday rebutted criticism that China pressured members of the families of 10,000 fugitives to return from abroad. In response to a question about the human rights group Safeguard Defenders' allegation that China has relied on coercion, including kidnapping and pressuring families, to force some 10,000 fugitives to return from overseas, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told the media briefing that fighting against corruption is a "just cause". "In pursuing fugitives and recovering stolen assets, China's judicial and law-enforcement authorities strictly abide by international rules, fully respect the  judicial sovereignty of other countries", he said.