When Liu Yaping was revealed to have been appointed the vice mayor of another county at the age of 28 before she came to Shenmu county in North China's Shaanxi province recently, it aroused public suspicion because it is really rare for someone so young to get such a position in China. When questioned, the local Party committee said it was an exception, but without giving any reason. The committee should explain the circumstances, says Southern Metropolis Daily:

The Party and government regulations require officials to be promoted step by step. Of course, exceptions can be made for exceptional officials, but Liu's background does not show any outstanding talent or achievement.

The local authorities even failed to publish her complete resume. They only said she was "especially excellent" so she got the promotion. When the public asked for evidence of her especial excellence, local officials stayed silent.

It seems the Yulin officials want to ignore the public scrutiny and believe they can remain silent in the face of any questions and suspicions.

Such a mentality might have worked in the 1960s when people had no channels for expressing themselves; but today that no longer works because there is the Internet. Bureaucrats cannot cheat the people they rule anymore.

Some journalists have already been investigating the true family background of Liu and the truth is expected to be known soon. If there is any misdeed behind her appointment, it is better for the Yulin officials to make them known, or they will only face greater embarrassment and censure. This should also be a lesson for officials nationwide not to avoid public supervision, or they will only humiliate themselves.