Newspaper warns of "underground" govt-funded extravagance

BEIJING - A commentary in the People's Daily, the flagship newspaper of the Communist Party of China (CPC), has stressed the need to guard against "underground" lavish lifestyles funded by public spending.

After the CPC leadership pledged to reduce extravagance and promote frugality, many officials have been torn away from banquets at luxury restaurants. But instead, some have turned to covert feasts in private clubs or even government canteens, said an article under the byline of He Yong, which was published on the front page of the newspaper's Wednesday edition.

The newspaper cited public discontent at such practices dubbed "low-profile extravagance."

In addition, the article noted, there have also been reports of tactics like "sauna bath receptions in farmyards" and "mineral water bottles filled with luxury liquor" as measures to circumvent supervision.

As the root of such problems lies in abuses of power, the fundamental solution should be strict restraint of the use of power, He urged.

The official's prodigal lifestyles are being rectified following the CPC leadership's requirements, but the newly emergent problems have reminded the authorities of the need to strictly enclose power "in the fence of supervision" and "the cage of regulation," the article said.

Moreover, such a mechanism must be a long-lasting one, in order to make corruption not only detectable, but also impossible, the article said.