This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

China’s Communist party has punished almost 37,000 officials so far this year for violating its “frugality code”.

Data from the anti-graft agency shows the most common offences were giving unauthorised bonuses, exchanging gifts and misusing public vehicles.

Since Xi Jinping became president six years ago, authorities have enacted a sweeping crackdown, aimed ostensibly at rooting out corruption but serving the dual purpose of removing political rivals and disloyal cadres.

In 2012, the party released an eight-point code advising officials to “be frugal” and obey rules on spending. Before the campaign, Chinese officials were regularly outed online for having lavish lifestyles despite their relatively low government salaries.

The party’s anti-graft agency, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, regularly publishes data and details of officials, from provincial and local-level officials and government agencies to state-owned companies, who have fallen foul of the codes.

Other offences tracked by the agency include excessive dining out using government funds, approving unnecessary government-related buildings, and holding overly lavish weddings and funerals.

Frugality has become the ideal for Chinese officials who model themselves after Xi, and Chinese state media regularly report on the lack of ostentation at state functions.

At last year’s party congress, organisers said there would be no extravagant flower arrangements, expensive banquet items such as sea cucumber, or fruit available for delegates, as in years past. Chinese state media reported that almost 200 golf courses and hundreds of misused government offices had been closed.

According to the anti-graft watchdog, it has disciplined more than 1.5 million officials since 2012, including Xu Caihou, the retired vice-chair of the central military commission, Zhou Yongkang , a former member of the elite politburo standing committee, and Ling Jihua, a senior aide to Xi’s predecessor, Hu Jintao.