There is strong evidence that the Chinese government is taking
notice and issuing regulations to fight corruption. Newly issued
Communist Party of China (CPC) regulations on internal
supervision and disciplinary penalties have raised hopes that the
new regulations will enhance efforts against corruption. The regulations
established “10 Taboos” for acts of party members that
violate political, personnel, and financial regulations and who
are involved in bribery, malfeasance, and infringement of others’
rights. The taboos included lobbying officials of higher rank,
handing out pamphlets or souvenirs without authorization, holding
social activities to form cliques, and offering or taking bribes.
Also on the list were making phone calls, giving gifts, holding
banquets or conducting visits to win support, covering up illicit
activities, spreading hearsay against others, using intimidation or
deception, and arranging jobs for others. Some believe that the execution
of three bankers, for “a run-of-the-mill fraud,” just before
the Communist Party’s annual meeting, was an indication of how
serious the government was about cracking down on corruption.