CPC disciplinary body's website shows transparency efforts

The website of the once-secretive anti-graft organ of the Communist Party of China (CPC) launched this week shows the Party's continuous efforts for transparency and a strengthening of anti-corruption work, experts have said.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the CPC and the Ministry of Supervision (MOS) jointly launched an official website on Monday. It will serve as a window for the public to understand the central authority's disciplinary organ.

The website lists in detail the organization and structure of the CCDI and the MOS, the two sharing one institution. It also introduces the work process of the anti-graft organ in dealing with corruption cases, and features a link for the public to report suspected corruption cases.

It is the first time that China's anti-graft organ has disclosed such information to the public. Always dealing with the most sensitive issues, it was for a long time shrouded in secrecy and had no channels for public contact.

The website had begun to fulfill it role as early as Tuesday, when it published a CCDI circular urging officials to refrain from luxurious banquets and gift-giving as the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival approaches.

On Wednesday, the site announced that two vice ministerial-level officials had been stripped of their Party membership and removed from their posts for involvement in corruption. The news was later cited as an official source by the country's major website portals.

Wang Yukai, a professor with the Chinese Academy of Governance, said the launch of the website will make online whistleblowing more credible and timely. It will also serve as a platform for authorities and the public to interact with each other, according to the professor.

Anti-corruption efforts are ever-strengthening after China's leadership transition, with a number of officials of vice ministerial-level and above being punished or placed under investigation.

The authority has also employed more channels to fight corruption, such as the Internet. Liu Tienan, former deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission, is among the officials to have fallen, after a journalist disclosed his suspected economic violations.

Wang said the Party's anti-graft organ, which has been encouraged by those results, can use its website to foster more online whistleblowers.

The website says it encourages real-name reports with accurate contact information. It will handle reports from such real-name whistleblowers with priority.

Wang also noted that the move complies with the trend of transparency in government information. Drawing lessons from the 2003 SARS epidemic, Chinese authorities have learned the importance of openness in maintaining social stability and building a positive government image.

The website can dispel the anti-graft organ's once-secretive image by providing the public with access to information, added Wang.

Most government organs now have official websites, as do more and more institutions of the Party. The CPC International Department and the United Front Work Department launched websites as early as 2003 and 2001 respectively.

Other Party institutions, including the People's Daily and the Central Compilation and Translation Bureau also have official online presences. The Commission for Political and Legal Affairs sponsors a website featuring legal affairs.

Wang forecast that as the Party is increasingly open and transparent to the public, more Party institutions and departments will launch websites in future.