Communist Party Releases First Rules on Transparency

China’s ruling Communist Party has released its first rules on transparency, in an apparent attempt to move toward a more open style of governance. But scholars said the party could do more, including the introduction of a national law.

The new trial guidelines — released Tuesday but backdated to Dec. 20 — seek to clarify the boundary between the information open to the public and that which can only be accessed by party members — as well as that restricted to smaller circles of the party establishment.