ASSET DECLARATION SYSTEM STILL PROBLEMATIC
Although the Chinese public has previously proposed creating an asset declaration system for the Party to supervise its officials, Wu said the proposed system is still problematic.
Wu specified two major problems in the creation of a mechanism for disclosure for Chinese officials: public distrust in officials' declarations and the government's inability to accurately verify their declarations.
"The system won't work if the public does not trust the officials' declarations. At the same time, we have no way to truly verify their claims," Wu said.
Wu did not offer a timetable for the implementation of the asset declaration system. The system would require all officials to declare their incomes and investments, as well as a few personal details.
However, he said the CPC takes a positive attitude toward establishing such a system, as it has proven to be effective in fighting corruption in many other countries.
According to the Communist Party of China Central Committee's anti-corruption guidelines for 2008-2012, the Party must continue to research and evaluate the system before it can be implemented.
A regulation passed last year already requires officials to report their personal incomes, as well as their children's and spouses' employment and housing status, Wu said.
Last year's regulation was not the first of its kind. In April 1995, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, or China's cabinet, created a regulation that required high-ranking officials to report their incomes.
However, corrupt officials have been known to transfer ill-gotten gains overseas, often to their spouses or children, to avoid punishment.
"The Chinese government has paid great attention to corrupted officials who send their money overseas and has taken measures to pursue them and hunt for the embezzled funds," Wu said.
The Chinese government has cooperated with other countries and regions to bring these corrupted officials to justice. The CPC has also started to focus its vision on government officials whose spouses and children have migrated to other countries.
