New regulation promises punishment for official incompetence

BEIJING - The Communist Party of China (CPC) on Friday issued a new regulation aimed at ensuring poorly performing officials are demoted or sacked.

While China has meted out tough punishments ranging from sackings to jail time for corrupt officials, those who simply do their jobs half-heartedly rarely suffer any consequences.

The new rules, which will enter a trial run, stipulate that officials who don't adhere to Party rules, are corrupt, irresponsible, incompetent or "with undesirable work styles" should be subjected to "organizational adjustment", a euphemism encompassing demotion and sacking.

The regulation was finalized on Friday at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee presided over by President Xi Jinping.