Institutions of Democratic Governance
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Corruption takes many forms in China, from corrupt officials at all levels using their public office for private gain and seizing land for development to corrupt state-owned enterprises gaming the system to their advantage. Corruption also continues to be among the root causes of rights abuses against Chinese citizens.
On July 16, 2013, public security officials from Beijing municipality's traffic security division criminally detained prominent law scholar and civic rights advocate Xu Zhiyong on suspicion of "gathering a crowd to disturb order in a public place" (Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD), 17 July 13; Human Rights in China (HRIC), 16 July 13). For more than a decade, Xu has been involved in rights advocacy as a legal counsel, law lecturer, and independently elected People's Congress deputy for the Haidian district of Beijing (Economic Observer, 13 November 08; China Daily, 17 December 03).
The following text was retrieved from the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China Web site on March 29, 2013.
The following text was retrieved from the Central People's Government of the PRC Web site on April 2, 2013.
On October 30, 2012, the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) issued the Circular on Taking Steps To Strengthen Environmental Open Government Information Work (MEP circular), in order to implement the State Council Information Office 2012 Open Government Information Focal Points Work Plan (Work Plan), issued in April 2012. The Work Plan included environmental protection as one of the key areas targeted for advancement in information disclosure.
On October 31, 2012, the Kunming Intermediate People's Court sentenced democracy advocate Cao Haibo to eight years in prison on the charge of "subversion of state power" (Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD), 1 November 12). The same article noted the charges related to Cao's discussions of democratic reforms and constitutional rights in an online chat group called "Society to Strengthen China" (Zhenhuahui). According to a November 5, 2012, Human Rights in China (HRIC) article, Cao also created other online chat forums to talk about the Three Principles of the People, a political philosophy created by Sun Yat-sen, a leader of the Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) and the first provisional president of the Republic of China (1911–1912) who was considered to be the father of modern China. (Encyclopedia Britannica, online).
(For more information regarding the topics outlined above see paragraphs below, and these sources: Xinhua, 28 September 12; Constitution of the Communist Party of China, Article 18; Alice Miller, "The Road to the 18th Party Congress," China Leadership Monitor, No. 36, Winter 2012, 6 January 12; Cheng Li, Preparing For the 18th Party Congress: Procedures and Mechanisms," China Leadership Monitor, No. 36, Winter 2012, 6 January 12; and Susan Lawrence, Michael Martin, Congressional Research Service report, "Understanding China's Political System," 10 May 12.)