China's Unique Way To Deal With Corruption

China doesn't beat around the bush when it comes to corrupt government officials. Unlike the United States Congress, who, regardless of which political party is in power, can take years to decide if they will try to make someone testify before a dog-and-pony-show committee, or God forbid, decide to even censure someone. No, China takes a much more effective approach.

Recall just a few months ago when pets across the country got sick and died after eating food made with contaminated wheat gluten imported from China. The wheat gluten also contained a chemical called melamine that is found in plastic and pesticides. It wasn't just a mistake. Melamine is often used to boost the protein levels in food sold on the black market.

China has also been the source of thousands of deaths around the world from diethylene glycol poisoning. Diethylene glycol is an industrial solvent and a main ingredient in antifreeze. But shady companies traced back to China have been slipping the solvent into base syrups used to make cough syrup and other medicines. The end result is tens of thousands of people were made sick and untold thousands more have died.

There are many other cases where tainted medicines, mostly counterfeit products, are making people sick. The one thing they have in common is that they are coming out of China.

The list of contaminated products hasn't been limited just to medicines. Contaminated pork, drug tainted fish, banned dye's, juice drinks made with unsafe food colorings, and even toys rejected because of lead paint have raised red flags in recent months. Not only do these products pose a health risk, but it's becoming a serious threat to the growing Chinese economy. And there lies the motivation.

Under pressure from other countries, China launched an investigation into their version of the food and drug administration. Many suspected it was only to save face. As they have done before, people expected China would try to appear that they are addressing the problem when in reality they would do nothing, something the U.S. Congress has perfected.

During the investigation Wu Yi, the Deputy Prime Minister, issued a warning to anyone involved in trafficking contaminated products, saying China would severely punish the "wicked activities" that led to tainted food and drugs on the market.

The Chinese government surprised us and followed through on their threat. Not only did they announce in May that two former high ranking health officials were guilty of accepting bribes and would be removed from their posts, but that they would be executed as well. Early Tuesday morning China carried out the death sentences. Zheng Xiayou, the head of the food and drug watchdog, and Cao Wenzhuang, the pharmaceutical registration department director were both executed on Tuesday.

Chinese officials said they face social unrest and a further tarnished image around the world unless they reign in their food and drug industries. As such they have stepped up investigations into their own products and surprisingly claim 20% of the products manufactured in China in the first half of 2007 are "substandard." Cross your fingers that means low quality and not toxic. But this is hopefully the start of one of the world's giant powers learning the need to be more responsible in the manufacturing and distribution of food, medicine, and other products, if only because of their own bottom line.

A lot of people will argue that executing anyone is inhumane. Personally I disagree with that in some cases, but I accept the argument. However, if you were the parent of a child who died from poisoned cough syrup, or even if your pet died just so some corrupt official could line his pockets, you might think otherwise.