Zheng Xiaoyu, former head of China’s food and drug administration, was executed early this morning.
His execution marked the first time China has imposed a death sentence on an official of his rank since 2000.
The Supreme People’s Court approved the death sentence against Zheng Xiaoyu, 62, in May. Zheng was convicted of taking bribes worth some 6.5 million yuan ($850,000) from eight companies and approving an antibiotic blamed for at least 10 deaths, as well as other substandard and fake medicines.
Xinhua News Agency cited the high court as stating.
“Zheng Xiaoyu’s grave irresponsibility in pharmaceutical safety inspection and failure to conscientiously carry out his duties seriously damaged the interests of the state and people.”
According to the Washington Post, in the first four months of 2007, FDA inspectors, who are able to check out less than 1 percent of regulated imports, refused 298 food shipments from China.
Yes, Zheng was derelict. He abused his power. His corruption and deceit lead to the death of innocent people. He also damaged the reputation of his country… however, failure to commute sentence to life in prison seems 
harsh even for China.
Was this a desperate attempt at restoring good faith and trust in the “made in China” brand mark (which will aid US’s efforts to keep importing the deadly but cheap foodstuffs) or is it how how China effectively deals with corruption?
Good grief, could you imagine if the United States doled out death sentences to morally bankrupt politicians? Who would be the first to go… It could get expensive and we’d be forced to import cheap bullets.
