A brake on official cars

The State Council's decision to introduce a reform this year to regulate the use of government cars suggests the central government's determination to tackle the problem, which has long been seen as one of the biggest sources of waste and corruption.

The State Council made the decision at its Friday's meeting on the fight against corruption. As the second decision within a week relating to the fight against corruption, it reminds us of Premier Wen Jiabao's words at a press conference following the annual session of the National People's Congress early this month: "Corruption is where the biggest danger lies."

The recent decisions to disclose central government spending on government cars, overseas trips at public expense and government banquets, as well as this proposed reform of the system for the use of government cars, send a clear message that the government means to address the danger.