China Revises 'DOGE/DOPE' Regulations To Promote Frugality
The big piece in today’s edition of the paper is the publication of the revised Regulations on Party and Government Organs Practicing Strict Economy and Opposing Waste.
These were first issued in 2013. In that sense, the CPC under Xi Jinping was DOGEing (or rather also DOPEing, given that these are applicable to government and Party) well before Trump and Musk.
Anyway, I am breaking the full regulations and the associated commentary in today’s edition of the newsletter. There wasn’t much else that I found interesting.
The report first outlines the notice issued with the document. It says:
“The notice pointed out that the revision of the ‘Regulations’ adheres to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as guidance, adheres to the combination of goal-oriented and problem-oriented approaches, and keeps pace with the times to improve regulations on Party and government organs’ fund management, domestic travel, temporary official trips abroad, official receptions, official vehicles, meeting activities, office space, and resource conservation. It strengthens the implementation of responsibility for practicing diligence and thrift and opposing extravagance and waste, further tightens the institutional bolts for party and government organs to take the lead in living a frugal life, which is of great significance for thoroughly implementing the spirit of the eight-point central regulations and continuously deepening the rectification of the ‘four winds’.” 通知指出，《条例》修订坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，坚持目标导向和问题导向相结合，与时俱进完善党政机关经费管理、国内差旅、因公临时出国（境）、公务接待、公务用车、会议活动、办公用房、资源节约等规定，强化厉行勤俭节约、反对铺张浪费责任落实，进一步拧紧党政机关带头过紧日子的制度螺栓，对于深入贯彻中央八项规定精神、持续深化纠治“四风”具有重要意义.
Now, on to the document.
Article 2: These ‘Regulations’ apply to Party organs, NPC organs, administrative organs, CPPCC organs, supervisory organs, judicial organs, procuratorial organs, as well as people’s organisations such as trade unions, the Communist Youth League, the Women’s Federation and public institutions managed in accordance with the Civil Service Law. 第二条 本条例适用于党的机关、人大机关、行政机关、政协机关、监察机关、审判机关、检察机关，以及工会、共青团、妇联等人民团体和参照公务员法管理的事业单位.
Article 3 says that “the term ‘waste’ as used in these Regulations refers to acts whereby Party and government organs and their staff, in violation of regulations, carry out unnecessary official activities, or, in the course of performing official duties, exceed prescribed scope, standards, and requirements, improperly use public funds, assets, and resources, and cause losses to the state and society.” 第三条 本条例所称浪费，是指党政机关及其工作人员违反规定进行不必要的公务活动，或者在履行公务中超出规定范围、标准和要求，不当使用公共资金、资产和资源，给国家和社会造成损失的行为.
Article 4 says: “Party and government organs practicing strict economy and opposing waste should thoroughly implement the spirit of the eight-point central regulations and follow these principles:
adhere to strictness and simplicity, take the lead in living a frugal life, diligently manage all undertakings, reduce the cost of official activities, and free up more funds for development needs and people’s aspirations;
adhere to rules and laws, comply with relevant provisions of party regulations and national laws and regulations, and strictly follow the system;
adhere to improving quality and efficiency, scientifically coordinate fiscal resources, strictly control expenditures, and strengthen performance evaluation of practicing economy;
adhere to seeking truth from facts, arrange official activities based on practicality, cancel unnecessary official activities, and ensure normal official activities;
adhere to openness and transparency, except for matters involving state secrets, the use of public funds, assets and resources in official activities should be disclosed according to regulations and subject to supervision from all sides;
adhere to deepening reform, overcome institutional and mechanism obstacles through reform and innovation, and establish and improve long-term mechanisms for practicing economy and opposing waste.
第四条 党政机关厉行节约反对浪费，应当深入贯彻中央八项规定精神，遵循下列原则：坚持从严从简，带头过紧日子，勤俭办一切事业，降低公务活动成本，腾出更多资金用于发展所需、民生所盼；坚持依规依法，遵守党内法规和国家法律法规的相关规定，严格按照制度办事；坚持提质增效，科学统筹财政资源，严格控制经费支出，加强厉行节约绩效考评；坚持实事求是，从实际出发安排公务活动，取消不必要的公务活动，保证正常公务活动；坚持公开透明，除涉及国家秘密事项外，公务活动中的公共资金、资产和资源使用等情况应当按照规定予以公开，接受各方面监督；坚持深化改革，通过改革创新破解体制机制障碍，建立健全厉行节约反对浪费工作长效机制.
Article 7: Leading organs and leading cadres at all levels must establish the correct view on political achievement, adhere to leading by example and setting the tone from the top, strictly prohibit ‘image projects’ and ‘political achievement projects’ that waste people’s efforts and resources, prevent major decision-making errors from causing serious waste, and resolutely oppose formalism, bureaucracy, hedonism, and extravagance. 第七条 各级领导机关和领导干部必须树立正确政绩观，坚持以身作则、以上率下，严禁搞劳民伤财的“形象工程”、“政绩工程”，防止重大决策失误造成严重浪费，坚决反对形式主义、官僚主义、享乐主义和奢靡之风.
The second part of the document discusses fund management. It basically makes the point that all revenues and expenditures must be reflected in the budget. Non-tax revenues should “be promptly and fully paid to the state treasury”. There should be no “spending beyond the budget or without a budget.” “Strictly control domestic travel expenses, temporary overseas trips for official business, official reception expenses, official vehicle purchase and operating expenses, conference expenses, training expenses and other expenditures. No additional expenses will be made during the implementation of the annual budget. If additional expenses are indeed required due to special needs, they shall be reported and approved in strict accordance with the prescribed procedures.” 严格控制国内差旅费、因公临时出国（境）费、公务接待费、公务用车购置及运行费、会议费、培训费等支出。年度预算执行中不予追加，因特殊需要确需追加的，严格按照规定程序报批.
The section also warns with regard to the gaming of the public procurement system and stresses the need to “resolutely prevent inefficient and ineffective investment.”
The third section outlines restrictions when it comes to domestic and overseas travel.
Article 17 says: Annual temporary overseas travel plans for official business must be arranged in a coordinated manner, and the number of delegations, the number of countries visited, the number of delegation members, and the number of days stayed abroad must be strictly controlled. Do not arrange courtesy visits or general visits without substantial content. Do not organise general overseas study tours, routine research, or exchange learning activities. Strictly prohibit concentrated arrangements for visits to popular countries or regions. Strictly prohibit disguised public-funded overseas tourism in any name or form. Strictly implement quota management regulations for temporary official overseas travel, and do not treat overseas trips as personal benefits or arrange rotating overseas travel. Strictly control cross-regional and cross-departmental delegations. 第十七条 统筹安排年度因公临时出国计划，严格控制团组数量和出访国家数、团组人数、在外停留天数，不得安排照顾性、无实质内容的一般性出访，不得组织开展一般性出国考察、日常调研、交流学习等活动，严禁集中安排赴热门国家或者地区出访，严禁以任何名义和方式变相公款出国旅游。严格执行因公临时出国限量管理规定，不得把出国作为个人待遇、安排轮流出国。严格控制跨地区、跨部门团组.
Article 19 says: Overseas delegations shall arrange transportation and accommodations in accordance with prescribed standards. It is forbidden to violate regulations by taking chartered civilian flights, private, corporate, or foreign airline charter flights. It is forbidden to arrange accommodations and vehicles exceeding standards. It is prohibited to add countries or regions to the visit without authorisation. It is prohibited to change the itinerary without authorisation or extend the number of days of stay abroad without authorisation. During the period abroad, the delegation must not exchange gifts or souvenirs bought with public funds with overseas Chinese institutions or other Chinese-funded institutions and enterprises. It must not use public funds to host banquets for each other. 第十九条 出国团组应当按照规定标准安排交通工具和食宿，不得违反规定乘坐民航包机，不得乘坐私人、企业和外国航空公司包机，不得安排超标准住房和用车，不得擅自增加出访国家或者地区，不得擅自变更行程路线，不得擅自延长在国外停留天数。 出国期间，不得与我国驻外机构和其他中资机构、企业之间用公款互赠礼品或者纪念品，不得用公款相互宴请.
The next section deals with official receptions and banquets. The guidelines warn against concealing expenses. The document says that “no high-end dishes, cigarettes, or alcohol shall be provided during working meals.” Officials are also required to submit a reception list with the details of individuals who visited as part of the audit. The document lists “frugality” as one of the principles even when hosting foreign guests.
Article 26 says that “Party and government organs must not build, renovate, or expand affiliated hotels, guesthouses, or other facilities or venues with reception functions under any name. They must not exceed actual needs for above-standard construction or luxurious decoration of reception venues under the guise of housing maintenance. Strictly control and strictly approve the construction and expansion of Party spirit education and training institutions. Do not use the guise of building Party spirit education and training institutions to disguise the construction of office buildings and halls or disguise tourism development. Establish a reception resource sharing mechanism, promote centralised and unified management and utilisation of reception and training venues affiliated with government organs. Improve service operation mechanisms, implement enterprise-style management for reception and training venues affiliated with government organs, and reduce service operation costs. Actively promote the socialisation reform of domestic official reception services, and effectively utilise social resources to provide transportation, accommodation, dining, and other services for domestic official receptions. 第二十六条 党政机关不得以任何名义新建、改建、扩建所属宾馆、招待所等具有接待功能的设施或者场所，不得以房屋维修等名义超出实际需要在接待场所超标准建设、豪华装修。 严格控制、严格审批新建扩建党性教育培训机构，不得以建设党性教育培训机构名义变相建设楼堂馆所、变相搞旅游开发。 建立接待资源共享机制，推进机关所属接待、培训场所的集中统一管理和利用。健全服务经营机制，推行机关所属接待、培训场所企业化管理，降低服务经营成本。 积极推进国内公务接待服务社会化改革，有效利用社会资源为国内公务接待提供用车、住宿、用餐等服务.
The next chapter deals with official vehicles. Among the many limitations imposed, it also says that “government centralised procurement of official vehicles shall be implemented, and domestically produced vehicles shall be selected, with priority given to new energy vehicles.” 第二十九条 公务用车实行政府集中采购，应当选用国产汽车，优先选用新能源汽车.
The following chapter deals with conferences and meetings.
Article 33: The venue for the meeting shall be managed by designated government procurement. The accommodation rooms for the meeting shall be mainly standard rooms, and buffets or working meals shall be arranged for meals. It is strictly forbidden to raise the standards for meals and accommodation for the meeting. The layout of the meeting site should be simple, and no flowers or background boards shall be placed for working meetings. It is strictly forbidden to hold meetings in scenic spots in violation of regulations. During the meeting, no banquets shall be arranged, no tours or visits unrelated to the meeting shall be organised, and no souvenirs shall be distributed under any name. 第三十三条 会议召开场所实行政府采购定点管理。会议住宿用房以标准间为主，用餐安排自助餐或者工作餐，严禁提高会议用餐、住宿标准。会议活动现场布置应当简朴，工作会议一律不摆花草、不制作背景板。严禁违反规定到风景名胜区举办会议。 会议期间，不得安排宴请，不得组织旅游以及与会议无关的参观活动，不得以任何名义发放纪念品.
The document also says that meeting expenses that exceed the prescribed amount will not be reimbursed; “it is strictly prohibited to use meeting expenses to purchase office equipment in violation of regulations, and it is strictly prohibited to list any expenses unrelated to the meeting, such as official reception expenses, and it is strictly prohibited to embezzle meeting funds.” 严禁违规使用会议费购置办公设备，严禁列支公务接待费等与会议无关的任何费用，严禁套取会议资金.
The section also warns against holding public banquets and public travel activities in the name of training.
Article 36: Streamline and standardise festivals, exhibitions, and forum activities. Implement list management and strict approval. It is strictly prohibited to use fiscal funds to hold commercial art performances. Strictly control the hosting of large comprehensive sports games and various competitions. For approved festivals, exhibitions, forums, sports games, competitions, and other activities, the scale and expenditure should be strictly controlled. Competition with others, extravagance, and waste are not allowed. It is forbidden to illegally apportion or transfer costs. It is forbidden to distribute various souvenirs in the name of hosting activities. It is forbidden to use fiscal funds in violation of regulations to invite celebrities and stars to participate in activities. Activities should make full use of existing resources. Equipment specially provided should be promptly recovered after the activity ends. The purchase of luxurious materials and equipment is strictly prohibited. 第三十六条 精简规范节庆展会论坛活动，实行清单管理，从严审批。严禁使用财政资金举办营业性文艺演出。从严控制举办大型综合性运动会和各类赛会。 经批准的节庆展会论坛、运动会、赛会等活动，应当严格控制规模和经费支出，不得互相攀比、大操大办、铺张浪费，不得违规摊派或者转嫁费用，不得借举办活动发放各类纪念品，不得违规使用财政资金邀请名人明星参与活动。举办活动应当充分使用现有资源，专门配备的设备在活动结束后应当及时收回，严禁购置奢华物资设备.
The next chapter covers official buildings. It warns against constructing offices that violate standards, go over budget or are built without authorisation.
Article 40: Construction projects for office buildings of Party and government organs shall be based on the principles of simplicity, practicality, safety and energy conservation. They must strictly implement office building construction standards, unit comprehensive cost standards and public building energy conservation design standards. They must comply with land use and urban planning requirements, and strictly prohibit construction beyond the prescribed standard and luxurious decoration. Party and government office buildings shall not seek to become city landmarks, and it is strictly prohibited to build supporting facilities such as large squares and parks. 第四十条 党政机关办公用房建设项目应当按照朴素、实用、安全、节能原则，严格执行办公用房建设标准、单位综合造价标准和公共建筑节能设计标准，符合土地利用和城市规划要求，严禁超标准建设和豪华装修。党政机关办公楼不得追求成为城市地标建筑，严禁配套建设大型广场、公园等设施.
The regulations also warn that “leading cadres shall not rent hotel rooms as office space.”
The next section emphasises the importance of resource conservation, from energy, water, land to food, office furniture and office equipment. It calls to “promote the application of energy-saving technology products, eliminate high-energy-consuming facilities and equipment, and focus on promoting the application of new energy and renewable energy…Improve the government procurement policy for energy-saving products, and strictly implement the government mandatory procurement and priority procurement system for energy-saving products.” 第四十六条 对能源、水的使用实行分类定额和目标责任管理。推广应用节能技术产品，淘汰高耗能设施设备，重点推广应用新能源和可再生能源。积极使用节水型器具，建设节水型单位。 完善节能产品政府采购政策，严格执行节能产品政府强制采购和优先采购制度.
The next two sections deal with the importance of propaganda and education around frugality and opposing waste, and determination of accountability. Specific Party committees have primary accountability to report on waste as part of annual reporting.
Also in the paper is a front-page commentary on these regulations. The article says that the first of these regulations were issued in 2013 to implement the 8-point central regulations. And while those proved effective, it is important to recognise that “despite the Party Central Committee’s repeated orders, instances of extravagance and waste still occur in some Party and government organs, and some Party members and cadres still continue to violate discipline and exhibit hidden, mutated forms of the ‘four winds’ despite prohibitions.” 同时要清醒看到，尽管党中央三令五申，个别党政机关大手大脚、奢侈浪费现象仍然时有发生，一些党员干部顶风违纪、隐形变异的“四风”问题仍然屡禁不止.
“We must strictly implement the requirement to take the lead in living a frugal life. The newly-revised ‘Regulations’ put forward higher standards and stricter requirements for strengthening the management of Party and government organs’ fund use, improving government procurement supervision methods, optimising government investment direction and structure, strictly managing domestic travel activities, temporary official trips abroad, official reception activities, official vehicles, meeting activities, and office space of Party and government organs, and strengthening economical and intensive use of resources. Party and government organs at all levels must strictly implement various systems for living a frugal life, diligently manage all undertakings, be strict and simple, meticulous in calculation, strengthen constraints, strictly control expenditures, use limited fiscal funds on critical needs, and free up more funds for development needs and people’s livelihood expectations.” 要严格落实带头过紧日子要求。新修订《条例》就加强党政机关经费使用管理，完善政府采购监管办法，优化政府投资方向和结构，从严从紧管理党政机关国内差旅活动、因公临时出国（境）活动、公务接待活动、公务用车、会议活动、办公用房，强化节约集约利用资源，提出了更高标准、更严要求。各级党政机关要严格抓好过紧日子各项制度落实，勤俭办一切事业，从严从简、精打细算，强化约束、严控支出，把有限的财政资金用在刀刃上，腾出更多资金用于发展所需、民生所盼.
“We must truly establish and practice a correct view of political achievements. The newly-revised ‘Regulations’ emphasise that leading organs and leading cadres at all levels must establish a correct view of political achievements, and strictly prohibit ‘image projects’ and ‘political achievement projects’ that waste people’s money and time. Decision-making errors are the biggest waste. Leading organs and leading cadres at all levels must firmly establish the correct view of political achievement, comprehensively and accurately implement the new development concept, and exercise restraint against extravagance and premature spending when formulating development plans, introducing policy measures, and deciding on major issues. Limited fiscal resources should be used for implementing reforms, promoting development, and doing practical things to ensure that the Party Central Committee’s decisions and arrangements for high-quality development truly take effect. We must resolutely correct all forms of ‘political achievement impulse syndrome’, and those leading cadres with misplaced views on political achievement, major decision-making errors, especially those causing serious waste through ‘image projects’ and ‘political achievement projects’, responsibility must be seriously pursued.” 要切实树立和践行正确政绩观。新修订《条例》突出强调各级领导机关和领导干部必须树立正确政绩观，严禁搞劳民伤财的“形象工程”、“政绩工程”。决策失误是最大的浪费。各级领导机关和领导干部要牢固树立正确政绩观，完整准确全面贯彻新发展理念，制定发展规划、出台政策措施、决定重大事项都要力戒大手大脚、寅吃卯粮，要把有限的财政资源用在抓改革、促发展、干实事上，确保党中央关于高质量发展的各项决策部署真正落地见效。要坚决纠治各种形式的“政绩冲动症”，对领导干部政绩观错位，重大决策失误特别是搞“形象工程”、“政绩工程”造成严重浪费的，必须严肃追究责任.
The commentary also calls to “put a hard stop to the unhealthy tendency of extravagance and waste”. This covers all the domains that I have covered above, from office space, furniture, equipment, buildings, and waste in festivals, exhibitions, forums, sports games, etc.