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    "Douglas H. Paal"
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    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
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Source: Getty

In The Media

Gu Kailai And Corruption in China

Gu Kailai’s murder trial has placed a spotlight on corruption in the higher echelons of the Chinese government.

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By Douglas H. Paal
Published on Aug 20, 2012
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Asia

The Asia Program in Washington studies disruptive security, governance, and technological risks that threaten peace, growth, and opportunity in the Asia-Pacific region, including a focus on China, Japan, and the Korean peninsula.

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Source: BBC World News

Speaking on the BBC, Carnegie’s Douglas Paal discussed how Gu Kailai’s murder trial has placed a spotlight on corruption within the Chinese government. The scandal’s extensive media coverage and public interest has raised the issue of corruption as a point of law that must be dealt with, he argued, adding that the power transition in China has been sped up to give the impression that “the party has things under control.” Most officials are somehow involved in corruption, and that is unlikely to change, Paal explained. “All incentives are for officers to remain corrupt within the communist party. That’s how you take care of your support network, and until that changes, the party has every interest in not letting this investigation get out of hand,” he concluded.

About the Author

Douglas H. Paal

Distinguished Fellow, Asia Program

Paal previously served as vice chairman of JPMorgan Chase International and as unofficial U.S. representative to Taiwan as director of the American Institute in Taiwan.

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Douglas H. Paal
Distinguished Fellow, Asia Program
Douglas H. Paal
Political ReformEast AsiaChina

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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