Government and Policy

China battles corruption with legal measures

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-12-29 16:15

BEIJING - China has been investigating and dealing with cases of corruption in accordance with law and discipline, maintaining a stern momentum in the checking of corruption, according to a government white paper released on Wednesday.

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From 2003 to 2009, the people's procuratorates at all levels filed for investigation more than 240,000 cases of embezzlement, bribery, dereliction of duty and infringements on rights, says the white paper, titled China's Efforts to Combat Corruption and Build a Clean Government, issued by the Information Office of the State Council, China's Cabinet.

Also according to the white paper, China has improved a database on criminal records of bribery, and intensified efforts to punish and prevent crime of bribery. In 2009, some 3,194 people were punished for their criminal liability in offering bribes.

Further, China has launched a campaign to combat bribery in business. From 2005, when the special campaign against commercial bribery was launched, to 2009, over 69,200 cases of commercial bribery had been investigated and dealt with, involving 16.59 billion yuan ($2.5 billion) in total.

Additionally, the Chinese government has gradually strengthened the administrative accountability system, says the white paper.

In 2009, the Interim Provisions on the Implementation of Accountability for Party and Government Leading Cadres was issued, stating explicitly that responsibility must be fixed for seven types of acts that incur heavy losses or produce baneful influences, including serious mistakes in decision making, dereliction of duty, and ineffective management and supervision. In 2009, some 7,036 leading cadres were held responsible for such acts.

The white paper also states that in the 21st century, the focus in anti-corruption drive has been shifted to investigating and dealing with cases in which leading cadres take advantage of their control over personnel affairs, judicial powers, right to administrative examination and approval, and right to administrative law enforcement to act in collusion with lawbreaking businessmen, trade power for money, and solicit and take bribes, cases in which leading cadres provide protective shield for underworld and evil forces, and cases of serious infringement on the interests of the people, and cases of corruption that cause mass disturbances and major accidents due to negligence.