China sends inspectors to catch corrupt "flies"

Wang Yamin has secret phone calls, meets whistleblowers, and initiates investigations.

Wang is a county-level discipline official in central China's Henan Province. Unlike those that work in the upper echelons of the country's corruption watchdog, who are concerned with netting high-rank "tigers," county and township-level discipline officials like Wang mainly deal with "flies," corrupt cadres that are closer to the people.

Henan Province implemented its county-level inspection system in 2014, following the successful inspection practice of the Communist Party of China's (CPC) Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Wang, who is head of the county's No. 1 inspection team, said public complaints involved financing issues, embezzlement and bribery.

In one case, a township government deputy head was found to have accepted bribes totaling 80,000 yuan (12,000 U.S. dollars) to help others secure agricultural project allowance worth up to 200,000 yuan. The official was transferred to judicial organs for prosecution.

"Now that county officials have come to us for our opinions, we have no reason to keep silent," said 55-year-old Liu Yanqi, a CPC member.

Apart from Henan, Shanghai Municipality and the provinces of Jiangsu, Shandong, Zhejiang and Shaanxi have also started local inspections.

Yu Guodan, associate professor with the China University of Political Science and Law, said corruption of grassroots officials could seriously damage the image of the CPC and the government.

Up to 79 percent of the 44,300 public complaints received by the Henan provincial discipline authority in 2014 were related to low-level officials, according to provincial figures.

"A mosquito sucks a little blood but leaves a large mark, which hurts. The CPC must spare no efforts to swat them," Yu said. Endi