Wang Yong sees the biggest problem to be that Chinese officials often cover for each other and work hand in hand, allowing officials with a history of corruption to continue in their official capacity and climb the ranks of officialdom.
I must admit, I am confused by a major part of Wang Yong's opinion piece. A large part of the opinion is about the success of public opposition to "a polluting billion-dollar chemical project." Several people were arrested, and some were detained for almost two months. One man for failing to acquire a permit before protesting, and another for organizing a street walk over the internet. One man, somewhat incredulous at being detained for sending messages on the internet, was "soothingly" told by a police officer, "Don't cry, young fellow, history will tell." Is Wang Yong arguing that detention is a small price to pay for "a public veto of, or a check against, a harmful project favored by the local government"? Is Wang Yong suggesting that if you plan spreading the sunshine, follow the rules and regs? Or, is Wang Yong shedding sunlight on rules and regulations that are blocking the people's ability to wield the Sword of Sunshine?
Reprinted below is the sidebar from the article which chronicles the lives of several corrupt Chinese officials who continued to be promoted [links courtesy of me]. The more intense the sun shines upon corruption, the more difficult it is for corruption to hide:
Corrupt figures promoted
1. Chen Liangyu, former Party chief of Shanghai.
He had a corrupt record since 1987 when he was director and deputy Party chief of Huangpu District.
However, he was promoted to be Shanghai's Party chief. He received Party disciplinary punishment in 2006. Now he is under judicial investigation.
2. Qin Yu, former secretary to Chen Liangyu and director of Baoshan District, Shanghai.
He received about 6.8 million yuan (US$870,000) in bribes between 1998 and 2006, yet he was promoted to be director of Baoshan District in 2006.
He was put under Party disciplinary investigation one month after his promotion. Last month, Qin got a final court verdict: life in prison.
3. Han Guozhang, former vice-president of Shanghai Electric Group.
He received bribes before he was to be promoted to be the deputy Party chief and executive vice-president of the group on August 4, 2007. He was put under Party disciplinary investigation two days later. On September 23, a court sentenced him to life in prison for having taken bribes worth more than 6 million yuan.
4. Pang Jiayu, former vice-chairman of the People's Political Consultative Conference in Shaanxi Province.
He was found to be corrupt ever since 1997. Despite public complaints, he was promoted in 2003 from the chairman of the People's Congress of Baoji City to his last position. He is now under judicial investigation.
5. Hu Xing, former deputy director of the department of communications, Yunnan Province.
He kept mistresses and took bribes worth more than 40 million yuan between 1995 and 2004, and yet he was promoted. He was sentenced to life in prison last year.
6. Duan Yihe, former chairman of the People's Congress of Jinan City, Shandong Province.
He was found by his supervisors to keep a mistress in 1994, but he was then promoted to be deputy Party secretary of Jinan in 1997 and further to be chairman of the municipal people's congress in 2001.
Last July, he had his demanding mistress murdered. He was executed in September.
7. He Minxu, former vice-governor of Anhui Province.
He took bribes worth about 8.4 million yuan from 1991 to 2006. He also spent lavishly on mistresses and prostitutes. He became Anhui's deputy governor in 2005, and was subject to Party disciplinary investigation last June.
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