Ministry reshuffles must be more than skin deep

Ministry reshuffles should not exist only in name. When ministries with overlapping responsibilities are integrated, redundant staff and departments should be cut to increase efficiency. Otherwise, the meaning of the reform will be much smaller, says an article in Nanfang Daily. Excerpts:

China had similar reforms in the 1980s and this is a necessary action to fit the development of the national economy.

However, the ministry reshuffle is being praised as a major action by the Chinese government to reform itself. But the initiative should not be over exaggerated and its effects remain to be seen.

This reform is a passive adjustment rather than a spontaneous action. Generally speaking, there are three kinds of departments being reformed: departments related to food safety, population and public health; the departments of transport and railways; and the departments of ocean affairs.

Generally speaking, these fields focus on the most important challenges for the Chinese government, such as food safety, family planning policy reform, corruption in the railway system and island disputes with neighboring countries.

To some extent, ministry reform is overdue. Yet, if no substantial transformation happens, only reducing the number of ministries will not realize the objective of the reform.

More importantly, society is also eager to see how local branches of various levels affiliated to the disappearing ministries will reform and change their roles.