Cheating in car emissions test again shows need to root out corruption

A traffic police office questions a truck driver at a checkpoint in Beijing, Nov 13, 2014. [Photo/CFP]

Each car in China must pass an annual exhaust emissions test. However, a recent China Central Television report shows no matter how bad a car's emissions are, it can pass the test as long as the owner pays an agent 200 yuan ($31), of which 150 yuan goes to the testing staff. Comments:

The corruption in the emissions test system best explains why we have so many strict environmental protection measures yet our air remains polluted: those entrusted with environmental protection seek personal gain from their power, instead of doing their jobs. We must accept the frustrating fact that corruption is still rampant in the domestic environmental bureaucracies. The anti-graft storm has been going on for two years and we expect it to clean up this as well.

Beijing News, Sept 14

More absurd than the corruption in the annual test system is the light penalties cheaters get. Some testing staff said they might lose their jobs but not get any other punishment if caught cheating, yet even this penalty has seldom been implemented in reality. As long as authorities continue turning a blind eye to the corruption, it will remain rampant in the annual test system.

Yangtze Daily, Sept 14

The report shows the testing staff members use software to make sure cars that would otherwise fail pass the test. Who made the software, who sold it to the testing staff, and who installed it on testing devices? All those involved in the cheating chain should receive their deserved punishments so that the chain gets cut.

Huaxi Metropolis Daily, Sept 14

Years ago it was the police that did the annual test, which received wide criticism for corruption. Then, after "market-oriented" reform, the police authorized non-governmental institutions to do the test, but the monopoly remains because they still decide who receives the authorization. We need true reforms that break monopolies instead of creating bigger ones.

People's Daily, Sept 14