Anti-corruption task remains tough
- Source: Global Times
- [05:19 January 08 2010]
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He suggested that the lack of a balance of its power in decision-making and execution is detrimental to curbing corruption.
"The supervision organs should be given the independent right to investigate, inquire, issue warnings to officials and freeze financial accounts of suspected officials," he said.
However, Wang also suggested the rise in the number of corruption cases also reflects the government's reinforced efforts to curtail potential power abuses.
Wang Wei, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Governance, suggested that a law designed to regulate the conducts of civil servants should be introduced as part of the government's efforts to curb corruption, which he says it is impossible to eradicate.
Citing similar laws in the United States, Japan and South Korea, the professor said the law could serve as one element of a long-term and effective oversight mechanism to crack down on corruption.
In the past, he said, there was a saying that a kickback amounts to lubricant for the development of the local economy and this notion has misled many government officials.
"That could explain why the government has intensified its campaign against bribery," he said.
Liu Zonghong, director of the History Teaching and Research Department of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Party School, told the Global Times that the current leadership accountability system is not flawless.
When corruption cases pop up, the big leader is likely the first to be affected. Higher-level officials tend to cover up illegal practices by their subordinates, who in return might bribe their supervisors to not disclose their case, he said.
He also stressed the role of the Internet in helping to expose corruption cases. The most notable was the fall of Zhou Jiugeng, a government real estate manager in Nanjing, who was stripped of his post thanks to the discovery that he smoked luxury cigarettes at $22 per pack and wore a $14,600 Vacheron Constantin watch.
Last year, the Chinese government decided to promote personal asset disclosure among officials, with information about the employment of spouses and children included in reports. Surveillance was stepped up on public officials whose spouses and children have emigrated.
Wang called for real action to put regulations and rules into effect and avoid token campaigns to curb corruption.
"China has never lacked regulations and rules on paper, nor does it lack specific measures and campaigns. What is lacking is the coordinated and functioning institution to implement the rules and system," he said.
Guo Qiang and Yin Hang contributed to this story
