Beijing creates anti-corruption agency

China has set up its first agency to deal with corruption, AP reported, citing state media. The newly formed National Corruption Prevention Bureau will be headed by Ma Wen, the newly appointed minister of supervision. No details were given as to how it will function. The establishment of the bureau, which is the responsibility of the State Council, comes as the Chinese Communist Party prepares for its five-yearly summit in October. Corruption is regarded by the leadership as a threat to party rule. More than 97,200 officials were disciplined last year, according to the party's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. The majority failed to carry out their duties, took bribes or violated party financial rules. The most well-known offenders were Chen Liangyu, former party secretary of Shanghai, and Zheng Xiaoyu, the former head of the State Food and Drug Administration who was executed in July.