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Prevention much better than cure in holding back river of corruption
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The China Three Gorges Corporation, which operates and manages the Three Gorges dams, is facing accusations in a nationwide anti-graft drive. The Party’s top disciplinary watchdog accused some of its leaders of steering lucrative engineering contracts to friends and associates or possessing more housing properties than allowed.
A task force sent by the Communist Party’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection gave the operator of the world’s largest hydroelectric power plant feedback on Monday. It had stationed inspectors at the company between October 29 and December 30 looking for discipline violations.
In a statement, the inspection team indicated that subcontracts are widely used in the company’s construction projects while some bidding is done under the table. The team cited a lack of transparency in decision making on key issues.
The company, one of the world’s biggest of its kind, also was found to spend extravagantly on vehicles, senior executives’ offices and daily expenses.
In addition, discipline inspectors revealed loopholes in the company’s personnel management and the promotion of some officials.
The latest investigation has exposed problems with the Three Gorges Corp’s daily management that have hurt the operation of the dams at the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. This affects China’s energy and national security, especially in light of the controversy in recent years over the dams’ alleged enironmental impacts.
Tougher measures are urgently needed since graft poses a major threat to China’s long-term strategies, people’s livelihoods and national security. Even the Chinese military has not been able to protect its own purity from the malady.
A separate investigation highlights an important case of corruption within the People’s Liberation Army, though details of the case against Lieutenant General Gu Junshan may never be made public because it is likely to lead to a court-martial.
Tougher measures needed
Gu was the deputy head of the PLA’s logistics headquarters and once in charge of the army’s infrastructure and barracks.
A story recently published on the People’s Daily website said Gu lined his pockets through huge kickbacks in transfers of military land at premium locations throughout China. Gu is awaiting punishment, but there is little remedy for the irrevocable losses he caused.
Corruption is like a disease hurting the nation’s health. When the harm has been done, it’s often too late to repair the damage. Fighting high-ranking “tigers” or swatting lowly “flies” alone is not enough to tackle the problem, so long if there are no effective systematic measures aimed at preventing and eradicating corruption.
The fundamental doctrinal source for Chinese Traditional Medicine, the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon, says to treat problems before the onset of disease, instead of trying to cure an illness once it’s established. That suggests preventive measures, because doing otherwise is “to wait for thirst before digging a well, or to wait to go into battle before casting weapons.” A credible, efficient and transparent system to prevent corruption from happening is the solution.
Corrupt officials like to trade their power for money, but the current system allowed them to do so as some of them, especially some important officials, sometimes enjoy absolute power in decision making.
Fortunately, measures will be gradually introduced to limit officials’ powers, as in the reforms carried out in some local governments.
Also, checks will be enhanced to prevent corrupt acts or attempts.
Premier Li Keqiang recently pledged to combat corruption, boost government transparency and build a clean government. His remarks came as he presided over a meeting to map out this year’s anti-graft plans.
Determination
Li’s remarks constituted an impressive start for a new phase of a nationwide campaign against corruption. They also served notice of a continuation of a series of graft investigations against senior officials started in late 2012.
The leadership conducted two rounds of investigations in 20 government institutions last year. The first round uncovered corruption in numerous local governments and state-owned enterprises and led to the downfall of several high-ranking officials.
Three more rounds of inspections are anticipated this year to speed up the corruption crackdown. The Party also is planning to amend its regulations this year on how inspections are carried out. Local discipline watchdogs will no longer report to local top officials but directly to their supervisors to ward off pressure and interference as they carry out their duties.
President Xi Jinping has stressed zero tolerance of graft since he took office in late 2012 and promised to seriously punish every corrupt official caught.
Corruption is unlikely to be eradicated in the near future, but a much better situation is anticipated. As an old Chinese saying goes: We must rise from little winnings to great ones, while a long-term effort is inevitable.
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