The central government has reiterated its determination to curb the squandering of public money on eating and drinking, as some local government officials have reportedly found new ways to satisfy their stomachs without going to luxury hotels and restaurants. The central government should punish these bold officials according to the law instead of handing out administrative warnings, says an article in China Business News. Excerpts:

To avoid being caught red-handed luxury restaurants, some officials buy expensive foods and invite famous chefs to their homes to organize luxurious private parties for their important guests. All the costs are later reimbursed from public funds. Some restaurants fill water bottles with expensive liquors to help their diners, who are mostly government officials, "abide by" the central government's rules on saving money on eating and drinking.

These strategies should remind the central government that it is useless to supervise and regulate officials by policies or orders. As it vows to build a country ruled by law, it must first rule the government by law, not rule the law by government.

China has its anti-corruption laws and organs. But both the laws and organs have failed in their mission if officials have the audacity to ignore the central government's orders.

The fundamental reason for eating and drinking with taxpayers' money is not the size of official's appetites or stomachs, but their sense of superiority and their fearless disregard of the rules. The central government should empower taxpayers with necessary means to supervise officials. For example, the National People's Congress, the top organ of power according to the Constitution, and its affiliated organs at various levels should serve their responsibilities as representatives of the people and supervisors of government.

Another important mission of the NPC is to inspect the governments' budgets and spending. It is not the central government's job to supervise or punish its lower subordinates, but the job of the NPC and judicial organs.