共腐關(guān)系圈 (gongfu guanxiquan): Rings of corruption

Recent corruption cases have reportedly exposed the deterioration of the political ecology in local authorities. Rings of corruption have formed as local corrupt officials connect with their corrupt colleagues, as well as illegal businessmen. Corrupt officials and illegal businessmen form corruption rings centered on their interests, and these seriously undermine public confidence in government and ordinary people's rights.

According to an investigation by Economic Information, the heads of local authorities or departments play a key role in the local political ecology. Under the current system whereby the top leader has the last word in deciding local affairs, local officials will closely cater to the leading official's working style, habits, even hobbies. One top corrupt official may result in a large ring of corruption in the local political system. Once the local political ecology gets ruined, officials are more likely to violate the Party's rule together.

These rings of corruption not only breed illegal practices, such as taking bribes or abuse of power, but also lead to adverse selection of officials, as those inside such corrupt circles are prone to promote their adherents to help cover up their own corrupt behavior, while those that avoid temptation are excluded from the local official circle and thus from promotion. These rings of corruption should be broken to make the governments clean.