China Watch

‘‘We have been too lenient,’’ Li Yizhong, Minister of the State Administration of Work Safety said at a news briefing. ‘‘That’s why some businesses believe they will not be held accountable.’’

The coal mining accidents claimed 4,746 lives last year, a drop of about 20 percent from the year before. But ‘‘the situation remains grave, very grave,’’ said Li.

Chinese coal mines are the deadliest in the world. Since the beginning of this year, more than 400 miners already have died in about 60 accidents.

Last Saturday another gas explosion in the coal mining capital of Shanxi province killed 28 miners and injured 23. It was the second blast in the province in one week. The mine had reportedly been shut down but continued operation without a license.

A lack of underground ventilation apparently sealed the victims’ fate. A separate work area had been set up with some safety mechanisms, but it was only meant for show when inspectors came, according to Zhao Tiechui, director of the State Administration of Coal Mine Safety Supervision, who had just returned from the scene.

‘‘The illegal mining had gone on for some time, but inspectors failed to fulfill their duty,’’ said Zhao.

The main reason for negligence is simple economics: China’s red-hot economy and role as the world’s factory gives it an insatiable appetite for energy. Coal provides 70 percent of the country’s energy needs, and some coal mine operators have become fabulously wealthy.

Coal production in the first four months of this year shot up by 6.4 percent. Prices also jumped by 6.2 percent, stimulating mining companies to operate beyond capacity and skirt safety rules, said Li. In response, Beijing introduced a new set of rules effective next month to punish offenders. It has also begun to hand out much harsher sentences, including life imprisonment for violators.

The problem lies not with government policy, observers say, but with enforcement.

‘‘That’s where officials fall flat on their faces,’’ said Robin Munro, Research Director of the Hong Kong-based China Labor Bulletin. ‘‘They are up against this dense wall of corruption and links between the local officials and coal mine owners, where both sides stand to gain from ignoring the rules and regulations.’’

Among the 133 officials and mine owners who were disciplined in the past two years, 51 faced criminal charges. The others were fired, demoted or given administrative demerits, said Chen Changzhi, a lead prosecutor. One case involved two deputy directors of a local public security office who were accused of taking bribes from the mine owner and enabling him to flee to Canada after an explosion killed 108 people.

About 60 percent of China’s 5.5 million coal miners are disenfranchised rural migrants. They work for low wages and mostly without any kind of accident insurance. ‘‘The government wants to help them protect their legal rights, including setting up a minimum wage requirement,’’ said Li.