China sacks environmental minister after toxic spill
(AFP/China Daily)
Updated: 2005-12-03 10:36

China activated the accountability system during the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) crisis in 2003.

More than 1,000 officials, including then Health Minister Zhang Wenkang and Beijing Mayor Meng Xuenong, were ousted for their attempts to cover up the epidemic situation, and incompetence in prevention and control.

The system was later introduced to all levels of government, and more officials have lost their jobs for major accidents or administrative mistakes.

Jilin officials covered up the disaster for nearly 10 days before informing the public. Wang said SEPA was investigating who ordered the cover-up.

He said the incident was partly the result of the unchecked economic development that has seriously damaged China's environment.

"At present, the blind pursuit of development in some localities is placing huge pressures on protecting the environment. The situation is extremely serious," Wang said.

"In some places, no one is paying attention to environmental protection work, no clear preparations are in place to address sudden and major environmental accidents, our work on emergency information and response is inadequate and our environmental emergency monitoring capacity is no good."

Meanwhile, China said it was closely monitoring the slick as it moved toward the Russian border and was cooperating with Russian authorities on a joint response to the spill.

Beijing had also given the go-ahead to UN environmental experts to monitor the situation.

"We will keep close cooperation with the Russian side so as to minimize the possible impact of the pollution on the Russian side," foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang told journalists Thursday.

Qin's remarks came as authorities said the chemical slick was moving more slowly down-river than expected, which could result in a long-term hazard as more of the benzene is deposited in the river bed or on the banks.

China has dispatched 150 tonnes of activated charcoal and six machines for express water analysis to Russia to help combat the toxic slick, a Chinese diplomat said Friday.

According to the Chinese authorities, the toxic slick is now 500 kilometers away from the shared Amur river that forms the border with Russia. It is expected to flow into the river, known in Chinese as the Heilong, from December 8.