Chinese lists
China's government and party bureaucrats are as good as David Letterman's writers at making lists. Here's the latest one. The problem with lists of "no-nos" like this is (as any parent or teacher will tell you) that there's no way for rule makers to be as inventive as the people tempted to do something sketchy for their own benefit.CPC lists "10 taboos" for local officials in leadership reshuffles
"The Communist Party of China (CPC) has warned government officials against the "10 taboos" ahead of the upcoming local leadership reshuffles...
"The "10 taboos" include:
"-- using various ways to win support during the reshuffle, including making phone calls, conducting visits, holding banquets and giving gifts;
"-- lobbying officials of higher rank to achieve promotion;
"-- handing out pamphlets or giving souvenirs without authorization...
"China will go through nationwide leadership elections and reshuffles of legislatures, governments and political advisory bodies at the provincial level in January this year as many officials had finished their five-year term...
"Local media organizations were required to inform the public of the telephone number and mailing address of the inspection group to help them to report any malpractice and corrupt candidates during the local leadership reshuffle...
"Organization departments of all levels have investigated about 25,000 complaints since the reshuffle started in 2006 and found 1,844 cases of malpractice..."
A more ambitious list reminds me of the 10,000 tree forests, the 10,000 mu (667 hectare or 1,647 acre) farm fields, and the 10,000 li (5,760km or 3,580 mile) roads of the Cultural Revolution.
Does anyone know if the number 10,000 (萬/万) has a special significance in Chinese culture? The article "10000 (number)" at Wikipedia says, "It is often used to mean an indefinite very large number." The article also says that in China, Japan, and Korea, the "phrase live for ten thousand years was used to bless emperors..." (And we all know how trustworthy those Wikipedia articles are.)
China to frame 10,000 national standards in 2008
"China will shape up 10,000 national standards... in 2008...
"Li Changjiang, head of the [General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ)] [wants] to ensure that all food and consumer goods would live up to national standards..."
Labels: China, leadership, policy
posted by Ken Wedding @ 9:11 PM
2 Comments:
I am often intrigued by the translation of one language to another. Here's an example.
It may be a literal translation of a cliche from Chinese to English, but I'm slow enough not to have figured out what an English equivalent would be for "clean-fingered."
In any case, it follows the publication of the list of "ten taboos."
Local gov'ts urged to conduct clean-fingered reshuffles
"With officials at various levels finishing their five-year terms in the first half of this year, Chinese local governments have been urged to take clean-fingered reshuffles as the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee has issued regulations against misconduct...
"Whether local governments could create a clean atmosphere during the re-elections was vitally important, according to an official of the department, as it would have great impact on the quality of the incoming official groups and regional stability...
"Practices such as lobbying officials for promotions, bribing officials to "buy" government jobs and outgoing officials' involvement in promotions are strictly banned..."
The Brit who blogs at Liuzhou Laowai replied to my question about "clean-fingered," this way, "The Chinese for "clean-fingered" is probably 廉洁的, which I would simply translate as 'honest'."
Thank you.
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