China’s National Audit Office released a report on Wednesday outlining unauthorized spending discovered in 37 branches of government, including prominent state-run media, Reuters reported. It said Xinhua had sent officials on unapproved overseas trips, and had spent RMB1.37 million (US$220,000) it should not have on 15 cars. Global Times was criticized for spending RMB6.6 million since 2009 on electrical equipment that bypassed the government procurement process, while People’s Daily drew fire for entertaining guests in five-star hotels. The audit is the latest move in Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption drive, in which state-run media were supposed to take a leading role.
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