Since when are US brand runners necessary for earthquake relief?

That's the question the world should be asking following the report that staff at the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC) in Henan and a branch of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China in Mianyang used relief funds to buy themselves US brand runners. Not just any runners either. The illegal use of quake relief funds amounted to nearly 300,000 yuan or $US43,500.

The Fucheng ICBC sub-branch in Mianyang bought 56 pairs of Nike sneakers, worth 28,500 yuan ($4134) for its employees, or $78 for each pair, which is hardly skimping on expenses, with relief funds. Invoices stated they had bought umbrellas and raincoats.

More than six billion dollars in aid from home and abroad has been donated for quake relief and President Hu Jintao has repeatedly warned that corruption is one of the biggest threats to the legitimacy of the ruling Communist Party. Once again, another story highlighting how big a threat.