Anti-corruption campaign has broader stage

By Liu Qingling Source:Global Times Published: 2012-12-13 20:15:15

Recently, a strong anti-corruption wind has been sweeping across China. This wind is gaining momentum with many people already proposing a national anti-corruption law.

Why is this anti-corruption drive so powerful?

It is rooted in the need for a favorable domestic environment for China's further rise and because the ruling party of China is well aware of the dangers corruption poses.

Moreover with Weibo, the activities of public figures and officials are more easily exposed to the public. In the Internet era, China has taken a very important step toward the uncovering and prevention of corruption.

Government institutions have opened their own Weibo accounts, among which some are dedicated to the fight against corruption.

Many cases, once reported, are immediately followed up by an inspection and prosecution, if confirmed. Weibo is just a means of exposure, and it would be meaningless if inspections and prosecutions did not follow.

Although there are some people brave enough to report cases while identifying themselves, more choose to report anonymously for fear of reprisals. Some do not even dare to report and many do not even know how to report complaints to the authorities.

More measures should be taken to protect whistle-blowers so that their information cannot be revealed to allegedly corrupt officials. And should such leaks take place, severe punishment should be meted out to those leaking them, for such acts also constitute corruption.

Of course, there may also be occasional intentional slanders. Some are enjoying the victory of online anti-corruption efforts in bringing down corrupt officials like Lei Zhengfu, a district head of Chongqing who fell after a sex video of him with his mistress was exposed online, but the limitation of online anti-corruption efforts will gradually appear.

With more posts disclosing corruption, how to distinguish real tip-offs from slanderous fakes will be a great challenge.

It must be the case in China that the law is a nightmare for those flouting it. For those enforcing the law, not doing so earnestly and fully is a form of corruption and can only damage their own interests and benefits.

In essence, the anti-corruption initiative in China is the process for furthering the rule of law in China. Unless the Chinese nation fully grasps the spirit of the rule of law and truly acts in accordance with it, the anti-corruption initiative can hardly achieve its intended mission.

The author is an administrator of Tsinghua University. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn



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