The whip gets longer ...

Anxious to regulate its ranks, the Com-munist Party of China (CPC) has made another strong move against misconduct in public institutions.

In its latest document regarding the appointment and regulation of officials, public servants removed from their positions because of disciplinary action shall not be promoted within one year. Those who resign or are ordered to resign, or have received disciplinary dismissals, shall not be appointed to a leadership position equivalent to their original posts within one year; they will also not be promoted within two years.

This is just a sample of the new stance by the CPC against institutional malaise. Many have said that it forms a "supervisory network" so that the procedures of selecting and appointing officials are not abused.