China’s state-owned enterprises face new inspections in crackdown on graft
The mainland’s top graft-buster has announced a round of inspections into 26 state-owned enterprises in an extension to the Communist Party’s crackdown on corruption.
The mainland’s top graft-buster has announced a round of inspections into 26 state-owned enterprises in an extension to the Communist Party’s crackdown on corruption.
The widening probe would cover all major SOEs and financial firms this year as some enterprises showed “very noticeable” disciplinary problems, said Wang Qishan, who heads the party’s efforts to combat corruption.
Disciplinary problems were common at SOEs, where some leaders had bribed their ways up the party ladder, he told graft investigators yesterday. “Some officials have used their power to buy high and sell low and profited in tenders, benefitting their relatives, children and themselves.”
Wang, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, heads the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and also the Central Leading Group for Inspection Work.
Probes into state-run companies and government bureaus have occurred regularly since President Xi Jinping rose to power in late 2012.
The first round of inspections will involve 13 teams auditing 26 state-owned enterprises. The teams will also receive petitions from the public.
Team members will be selected from a set of names from different government departments put forward by the Central Committee. Each team will be led by an active or retired ministry-level official.
Companies to be inspected include: China National Petroleum Corporation, China National Offshore Oil Corporation, China National Nuclear Corporation, Sinochem Group, China Huaneng Group, State Grid Corporation of China, China Ocean Shipping Company – known as COSCO Group – China Datang Corporation, China Telecom, China Mobile, and Shanghai Baosteel Group Corporation.
In previous inspections, the commission has accused top officials at China State Shipbuilding, and relatives of top cadres at carmaker Dongfeng Motor, of carrying out illegal business.
The inspectors said they unearthed buying and selling of positions at power generator China Huadian, as well as poor controls that caused loss of state secrets. The inspectors cited discipline failings at state broadcaster China Radio International.
In November, anti-graft officials said they would shift their attention back to SOEs.
