Setting the right example

On Monday, the Communist Party of China's disciplinary watchdog published eight cases involving officials who had indulged in extravagant banquets, accepted cash gifts or paid for entertainment with public funds. The message is clear that the Party's new leaders meant it when they outlined eight measures in December aimed at eradicating the ostentatious working styles of officials.

This is the second time the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection has made public such cases; the fist time was in March. All the officials involved were given disciplinary punishments and the public funds were retrieved.

It is not rare for top leaders to stress the importance of Party members and officials setting good examples and creating a desirable public image. However, the new leadership has shown even more resolve to end the trend of extravagance and pretentiousness among officials, which threatens to tarnish the image of the Party and estrange it from the general public.