Targeted measures help effectiveness of work-style campaign, China

Specific targets outlined as part of the Communist Party of China (CPC)'s ongoing work-style campaign have been key to the effectiveness and success of the cause thus far, according to a political analyst. In June, the CPC launched a one-year educational campaign to boost ties between CPC officials, members and the country's people, while cleaning up undesirable work styles such as formalism, bureaucracy, hedonism and extravagance. Three months on, the campaign has helped cut improper work styles of officials, said Xin Ming, a professor with the Party School of the CPC Central Committee. He said the central leadership has kept rolling out targets, which partly explains the campaign's effectiveness. In recent months, the central leadership has implemented rectification measures in the construction of large government buildings, officials' accepting expensive mooncakes as festival gifts and attending luxurious banquets, said Xin. The top disciplinary arm of the CPC on Sept. 3 urged officials to refrain from luxurious banquets and gift-giving as festivals approach. Luxury mooncakes -- sometimes stuffed with shark fins or a bird's nest -- used to be sold at a high price around the Mid-Autumn Festival, easily more than 1,000 yuan (162 U.S. dollars). This year, such prices are rarely seen in shops. In July, the central leadership introduced an across-the-board ban on the construction of new government buildings in the coming five years, as glittering offices leads to public anger over the squandering of taxpayers' money. The campaign also called on state broadcasters to slash extravagant galas, and government bodies to eliminate pointless awards and prizes. "With all these specific moves, the CPC has step by step rectified work-style problems, and disciplined corrupt officials," Xin said. Additionally, the professor believes that the firm resolve of the CPC through such measures has deterred officials from committing work-style errors. "Even a CPC Central Committee member was punished. The central leadership is not just paying lip service by carrying out the campaign," Xin said, referring to Jiang Jiemin, former head of a Cabinet commission that supervises major state-owned enterprises. Jiang was removed from office because of suspected serious disciplinary violations on Sept. 3. His case follows investigations into other senior officials. These include Liu Tienan, former vice head of the National Development and Reform Commission, Li Chuncheng, former vice Party chief in Sichuan Province and Wang Yongchun, former vice general manager of the China National Petroleum Corporation.