China nets another 19,000 officials in frugality campaign

BEIJING - The Communist Party of China (CPC)'s top anti-graft body said Wednesday some 19,000 officials were reprimanded for violating austerity rules in the first half of 2015, bringing the total number of those punished since late 2012 to more than 120,000.

Those punished in the first six months of this year were involved in 14,000 cases, the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said in a report posted on its website.

The figures represent a significant drop from last year, when more than 71,000 officials were reprimanded in more than 53,000 cases, signaling that the "eight-point rules" introduced on Dec 4, 2012 aimed at reducing bureaucracy, extravagance, and undesirable work habits may be taking effect.

The CCDI warned that the number of violations and officials involved has been on the rise since March.

In June alone, more than 4,300 officials were reprimanded in more than 3,100 cases, it said.

Violations include using work vehicles for personal errands, providing unauthorized subsidies, and holding extravagant receptions, weddings and funerals.