The Chinese Organization and Personnel News, an agency affiliated with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, published an article last week titled "Preventing Officials from Sitting Idle and Awaiting Power Transition".

The article cited a communique issued after the fifth plenary session of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) held earlier this month. The communique stated that the anti-corruption watchdog would "resolutely rectify" such behavior.

Tiananmen Square in Beijing on 4/12/2025. Photo: AFP.

The article emphasized the importance of the current period, which focuses on local leadership reshuffles. "This stage is often a critical time for policy transitions, project promotion, and conflict resolution. Any hesitation, negligence, or shortcomings can lead to passive work and missed development opportunities," the article stated.

Drawing on previous experience, the newspaper suggested that some officials tend to view the personnel reshuffle period as a transition, using it as an excuse to "sit idle" and do nothing.

"These individuals fall into a 'passive and inactive mode' during the organizational restructuring phase, losing enthusiasm, lacking responsibility, failing to advance work and solve problems, and even delaying decisions," the Chinese Organization and Personnel News wrote.

The article further indicated that these officials "over-emphasize personal gain, lack responsibility, and always prioritize personal careers over the party's cause."

It detailed motivations behind this inactivity: "Some hope for promotion but fear making mistakes. Others are nearing retirement and lack motivation. Some will transfer to different departments and positions after the reshuffle and are not serious about their current responsibilities."

Consequently, local Chinese officials are urged to "fulfill their responsibilities while in office, ensure a focused work ethic, maintain discipline, and ensure uninterrupted work throughout the leadership transition period."

This call to action is understood to refer to the transition following the 21st National Congress of the Communist Party of China, scheduled for 2027. The Congress occurs every five years to elect a new Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and often results in major government reshuffles.

At the CCDI plenary session, Chinese President Xi Jinping stated the need to promote officials who are "absolutely loyal, reliable, steadfast, and responsible" into local government positions.

This is not China's first condemnation of inactive officials. Last November, People's Daily, the official newspaper of the Communist Party of China, criticized some officials for "lying flat", a term describing those who do the bare minimum to get by. Since 2024, some localities have even introduced "snail awards" to shame lazy and inefficient cadres.

Ngoc Anh (According to SCMP, People's Daily)