Corruption embarrasses the authorities, enrages the public, and poisons social morale.

It is a ticklish pandemic whose elimination entails a firm and persistent political will on the part of the nation's leaders.

We saw that resolve in the decision to set up a State bureau to prevent corruption. If everything goes smoothly, we will see it on updated lists of government offices this year.

There is little doubt about the Communist Party of China's and the government's determination to conduct serious housecleaning. From General Secretary Hu Jintao down, CPC leaders are talking about corruption as a matter of life-or-death significance to the Party.

But how much will a new organization help? Online and offline, discussions are heating up over whether the anticipated bureau can live up to its masterminds' hopes.

It may or may not, depending on how it works.

Many question the necessity of a new corruption-fighting unit, believing we already have enough.

It is difficult to say how many is enough. But we do have several watchdogs assigned to take care of corruption.

All People's Procuratorates have a special department to investigate crimes of embezzlement and bribe-taking by State functionaries.

The Ministry of Supervision and its local branches investigate fraud by public servants.

Inside the CPC, there are discipline inspection departments at all levels overseeing official conduct. The Ministry of Supervision has been working in the name of the CPC Discipline Inspection Commission since 1993.

The new bureau will be placed within this ministry. Its main functions are said to be education and system renovation.

Having one more watchdog and more professional corruption busters sounds good.

But that in itself is no guarantee.

When multiple parties are involved in a common cause, well-reasoned job descriptions and fine coordination are essential.

Instead of arguing if one more anti-corruption establishment is too many, our real imperative is to make sure each of them works, and all operate.

For that, our existing anti-corruption units and the new bureau will have to be woven into a seamless net.

(China Daily March 15, 2007)