context: This is the first round of inspections carried out under the newly implemented regulations on central environmental protection inspections, released in May 2025 by the State Council and the Communist Party Central Committee. These regulations represent a significant upgrade from the 2019 guidelines, giving the inspection mechanism higher legal status and formalising its procedures and leadership appointments.
The Ministry of Ecology and Environment launched the fourth batch of the third round of central environmental inspections on 26 May, reports Caixin.
Eight inspection teams have been deployed to five provincial-level regions (Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Shandong, Shaanxi and Ningxia) as well as to three major state-owned enterprises (China Huaneng Group, China Datang Group and State Power Investment Corporation). The inspections will last about one month.
The ongoing third round of inspections, initiated in late 2023, aims to cover all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps by 2026. It also targets central government departments and key state-owned enterprises. As of now, inspections have been completed in 21 provinces and seven SOEs, with a focus on both regional and river basin environmental issues.
For this fourth batch, leadership teams have been drawn from senior officials in the National People’s Congress and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. Each team is headed by a provincial or ministerial-level official, either currently serving or recently retired.
In a parallel move, the central inspection office issued formal letters to the inspected entities, urging them to avoid superficial or 'one-size-fits-all' responses, and to address public complaints with precision and accountability. Local governments and companies are instructed to avoid abrupt shutdowns or performative actions during inspections. Instead, environmental rectifications should be based on legality, urgency and impact.
The new regulations stress that enforcement must balance environmental protection with economic and social needs. Violations—including blanket shutdowns disguised as environmental compliance—will be strictly investigated, highlights the article.
This new phase signals Beijing’s intent to institutionalise and intensify its environmental governance while clamping down on ineffective or heavy-handed enforcement practices.