China is revising its statistics law to combat persistent data fraud, stemming from skepticism about the reliability of its data. The draft amendments aim to strengthen statistical supervision and assign legal accountability for data manipulation. Authorities plan to increase fines for non-compliance and delayed reporting by firms and public institutions.
This move comes at a sensitive time for China’s economy, which faces scrutiny over its growth targets. The government seeks to demonstrate its ability to meet these targets and maintain credibility. However, experts note that it will require increased transparency and sustained honest reporting to alter the perception of Chinese data reliability, which has been questioned for decades.
