Crackdown in Chongqing

Posted on 25 July 2010.

Chongqing in western China is home to over 30 million people.

In 1997, the city was officially taken out of the jurisdiction of Sichuan province and established as a separate municipality. In the last ten to fifteen years, large amounts of money have been invested in the city, but as wealth has grown, so has corruption.

"Chongqing is booming, but, along with the economy, crime has risen, especially extortion and racketeering. Locals say gangs take a big cut of everything from transport to construction," according to Time magazine. Since the middle of 2009, Chongqing has been the target of a crackdown on corruption and organised crime. "Chongqing's trials have riveted the country. Lurid details about once powerful mobsters and officials have spilled out in open court and across the pages of daily newspapers," Time continues.

Probably the biggest fish caught in the campaign has been Wen Qiang, former deputy police chief. He is believed to have accepted bribes totalling 12.11 million yuan. In April, he was sentenced to death after being found guilty of protecting five organised gangs, accepting bribes, rape and property scams. Many local residents rejoiced as they heard the news.

A further 3,000 suspected gangsters have also been arrested, many of whom were described as "respected businessmen or politicians", as well as around 50 legal officials. At least four of those convicted have already been executed.

A Chinese law professor commented, "The verdict has sounded an alarm to tell all police officials - cherish, don't abuse, the powers given to you. It also reflects the government's determination to fight corruption and has restored the public's confidence in the judiciary" (China Daily). Others are less hopeful about the long-term effects of the campaign. "It's not going to change the situation that much. If they arrest 40 or 50 top gangsters, another group of people will simply replace them," believes another expert (Time).

And Time magazine comments, "The recent crackdown has made Chongqing's criminal woes a national subject, but the reality is that its problems are commonplace. Take a stroll through practically any city in China and you can see examples of the protective network between organized crime and law enforcement. Prostitution and illegal gambling dens are ubiquitous, sometimes just a short distance away from police stations."

Pray that the crackdown in Chongqing will have a longer-term effect on crime and corruption there. Pray that other officials will take the warnings to heart and make a determined stand to avoid bribery and other illegal actions.

Pray that more local governments will be serious about cracking down on corruption. Pray for more top officials to launch such campaigns and press through until there have been real results.

Pray that such crackdowns will have an impact on ordinary people's lives. Pray that the culture of gaining power and influence through money and "connections" will be changed to enable China to be a more just society.