Corruption is a fact of life in China. In fact, Transparency International,
a German organization that applies its Corruption Perception
Index (CPI) globally, 1 rates China with a CPI of 3.6 and is number 75
of the 183 countries rated. New Zealand is rated the least corrupt at
number 1 with a CPI of 9.5, the United States at 1924 with a CPI of
7.51, and North Korea and Somalia the most corrupt at number 182
with a CPI of 1.0. The country’s press frequently has detailed cases
of corruption and of campaigns to crack down on bribery and other
forms of corruption. The articles primarily have focused on domestic
economic crimes among Chinese citizens and on local officials
who have been fired, sent to prison, or assessed other penalties.