China's Ministry of Land and Resources recently warned
government officers who illegally approve new land acquisitions
will face party or government disciplinary sanctions.
The ministry said those suspected of crimes will also face
charges in court.
An official of the ministry said recently there have been more
serious illegal new land acquisitions in some areas that have
hindered the healthy development of the national economy.
The ministry has demanded its provincial counterparts focus on
major cases of illegal land acquisition. These include approving
land acquisitions that are counter to land use planning and the
national policies or exceed an official's authority to approve land
acquisitions and the illegally use of farm lands. Ministries of
land and resources and supervision will make joint efforts to
examine the enforcement of law in terms of illegal land cases.
(Xinhua News Agency June 16, 2006)
