Photo: Comer Zhao

The last few weeks have seen Beijing host the Twin Sessions, China’s largest political gathering and a chance for the Party to be held accountable to the people. For a more detailed explanation of the Twin Sessions see: Hu, What, Where, Wen – a Quick Guide to the NPC & CPPCC and NPC & CPPCC Part 2 – In which we discuss issues and add Obama into the mix

During the Twin Sessions a provincial level official was answering reporter’s questions regarding the making public of official expenses when he snapped back with the retort “Why don’t ordinary people make public all of their expenses as well then?!”

The past few days have seen dozens of netizens around China public posting their expenses and finances on the internet. Everything from their monthly income, real estate assets, loans, shares to how big their TV is and even how many girlfriends they’ve had.

Instigator of the online phenomenon, ‘Tianyi’ said that although it is a bit unrealistic to expect everyone to follow suit, as the official said, and broadcast their finances, he wanted to do his best to encourage as many people as he could. Judging by the numbers it seems like ‘Tianyi’ has public opinion on his side.

The refute “Why don’t ordinary people make public all their expenses” has shot up the charts of famous sayings at this year’s Twin Sessions. For the official to be so careless as to let that slip from his lips can only be for two reasons: That knowledge of people’s rights remains in a confused and unenlightened situation, it being common for no one to understand who can demand what of whom. Plus, the officials that hold power and non-governmental associations get to carry out their own internal investigations and thus can grow rich from the system. No matter how big or small the problem, and no matter how good the chances of success, the only way to prevent corruption is to gain power over the financial system of government.

Photo: stephanhanafin

Government officials, it seems, are only too aware of the messy state of public rights. The long history of ‘Mother and Father Officials’ in Chinese politics has lead to this overbearing system of unquestionable government. In other words, people take what they’re given and don’t question, or indeed bite, the hand that feeds them.

Of course, the other option is to take it to the other extreme and say that as officials and also as Chinese people, why should they not publish their expenses? Who can forget this norm of politics: As an official you take on all the trappings of the title, but then what right have you to expect to hold this public office and then not declare yourself to the public? This is how it is done in many other countries. If you can’t accept this, then shift your arse out of office.

This time the official who came out with this line merely met with a small portion of the public who unexpectedly were more than happy to ‘do their best to rise to the challenge’. If Officials try this again I think they will find and even better public to face them.

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Expat Corner > Hu, What, Where, Wen – a Quick Guide to the NPC & CPPCC

Expat Corner > NPC & CPPCC Part 2 – In which we discuss issues and add Obama into the mix

 

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