Lessons from Zheng Xiaoyu: “Don’t be an official in an important position”

When Zheng Xiaoyu was executed on 10 July, state media ran blistering editorials condemning the former vice-minister for his crimes and urging others to heed the warning.

A document that purports to be Zheng’s final reflections, written shortly before he was executed, has been making the rounds of blogs and forums this week. It apparently first appeared on the website of the People’s Daily, and it was later picked up by Phoenix TV online. Those copies have both been deleted, and a Baidu search for the document’s title, “A final letter of remorse” (悔恨的遗书) currently returns 0 results.

A translation follows:

Note: Because he accepted RMB 6.49 million in bribes from drug manufacturers, Zheng Xiaoyu, former head of the State Food and Drug Administration, was executed on the 10th. The day before his sentence was carried out, he left behind a letter that was made public on the People’s Daily website. The complete text follows.

Tomorrow I will “start off on the road.” At this moment there are many things I want to say, things that may be “useful” to people who yet live, so I do not want to take them with me. These things are uncomfortable if left unsaid, stuck in my throat like a fishbone; perhaps if I let them out I will feel a bit better.

I was born in Fuzhou, Fujian Province in December, 1944. From that naked little boy I ultimately made good as a national-level official, so I could say my life has been very successful. I did right by my parents who gave me this life. With my changing duties, my official position climbed higher and higher, and time after time I brought my parents and family one surprises, excitement, glory, and pride. Through me, the Zheng family brought honor to its ancestors. However, today I write this to add a “full-stop” to my life; I have become a focal point for national public opinion, I am reviled by people throughout the country, and I have caused my parents and family to suffer great indignity! At this moment, I truly do not know what I ought to say to my parents (should they be aware of this beyond the grave) or my family!

Let me speak from my heart: even in my dreams I never dreamt that I would come to this end. In China, I am the first ministerial-level official since 1949 to be sentenced to death for being guilty of crimes of dereliction of duty. In the 1980s [1979], after the wreck of the Bohai No. 2 tanker, the a vice-premier in the State Council had a “serious offense” marked on his record as punishment. In the 1990s [1987] when there was a fire in Daxing Anling, the forestry minister was “punished” by being removed from office. Recently, when the Songhua River was polluted, things were taken care with the dismissal of the head of the State Environmental Protection Administration. When there was a gas leak accident in Chongqing that killed more than 200 people, a top official at CNPC was also removed from office. There have been instances where death sentences have been given for “malfeasance,” like the “Rainbow Bridge collapse” in Chongqing, when a county mayor was put to death, but a county mayor is a low-level official and cannot compare to a ministerial-level official. So when the judgment came down sentencing me to death, my first reaction was shock. But not normal shock! I am a ministerial-level official! I’ve never killed anyone directly! My second reaction was defiance. I though the punishment was too harsh.

However, what I never imagined was that the public opinion was a loud cry of acclaim. Everyone gnashed their teeth and clapped their hands in jubilation. This led me to reflect – how had I kindled such intense public anger? So my department was so important, my position was so important, the power in my hands had a direct connection to the security of the lives of the masses! Though I had not killed anyone myself, by dereliction of duty and administrative malfeasance I had caused fake medicines to bloom, spawning tragic case after tragic case. This score I must admit to. That I will die today is mainly because there is too much responsibility in my position. If I were in some other bureau-level or ministerial-level position, even if I took even more bribes, I wouldn’t lose my head. This tragedy has given me a bit of experience – if you’re going to be an official, don’t be an official in an important position. It’s not the case that more power is better. Additionally, if you’re going to be an official, then be responsible! Don’t think that being an official is something to “play” at; the consequences of irresponsibility could very likely be a fate like mine!

The determination of the central authorities to fight corruption is entirely evident in my death sentence. When Wang Huaizhong was about to die he said: Looks like the central authorities are serious about anti-corruption this time. My death sentence once again demonstrates the determination of the central authorities against corruption.

What I most regret now is that I should not have gone into government. In 1968 when I graduated from the biology department of Fudan University, I should have continued on in the field. If I had continued on in the field, then there’s no question that I would have become a professor long ago. I would be living a good life, and I would not have fallen to today’s outcome. If there is reincarnation I will definitely not go into government!

Tomorrow I will “set off on the road,” going to another world. What I fear most right now is how I will face the souls of those people I put to death. I pray that they will pardon me, forgive me. Haven’t I already received my retribution?

Last words of Zheng Xiaoyu, 2007.07.09