In an attempt to curtail corruption in China, President Xi Jin Ping is expanding the application of anti-corruption measures to families of corrupt officials. The pilot program, which was first implemented in the country's financial district Shanghai, will now cover the regions of Guangdong, Xinjiang, Beijing and Chongqing.
The program, which regulates the business dealings of the spouses, children and extended relatives of officials, was expanded following the news of Panama Papers, which detailed the offshore companies owned by family members of eight incumbent and retired Chinese leaders.
The Central Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reforms, headed by President Xi, decided on the expansion in a meeting held on April 18, according to the South China Morning Post.
"We will work to strictly define such business activities, to make detailed rules and procedures for implementation," state-run news agency Xinhua reported. The rules are long-term and will be adopted as "normal" practices.
Among the rules highlighted in the program include banning spouses of high-ranking officials from serving as managers of private companies or firms dealing with foreign investments. Spouses and children of officials are also prohibited from contracting business with the administrative departments in which their spouse or parents hold office.
Officials are also required to regularly report on the business activities of their relatives.
CNBC reported that curbing corruption is one of the highlights of President Xi Jin Ping's three years in office. The anti-corruption department of the ruling Communist party has been investigating the financial activities of thousands of government, state-run industries and military officials. Among the high-profile targets include top-ranking generals and former members of the Communist Party's politburo standing committee.
Last year, President Xi's administration punished nearly 300,000 officials for corruption, Asian Correspondent noted. The Central Committee for Discipline Inspection penalized 200,000 officials with light punishments, while 82,000 suffered severe penalties such as demotion in rank. The agency, however, is rarely transparent with its methodology or the quantum of evidence it considers in rendering an official guilty of corruption.
In Shanghai, at least 10 officials have been removed from their post or transferred to other jurisdictions.
