China. Death penalty for corruption to remain for now

officials with the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislative body, denied discussions were under way to abolish the use of capital punishment for those involved in serious economic crimes.
The speculation, countered in statements by Premier Wen Jiabao, remained inconsistent with the current domestic criminal legislative and jurisdictional practices. A spokesman for the Supreme People's Court explained that though the death penalty would for the long term be preserved, application of the punishment was under tighter scrutiny than ever to reduce the number of death sentences.