Three transnational companies were criticized recently by China's State Environmental Protection Administration for violating environmental rules. This event has aroused heated public discussion.

The 'China Daily' stressed that as China is increasingly integrated into the world economy, the country needs more than investment, advanced management and technology from transnational firms; it also needs transnational firms to shoulder a greater amount of social responsibility in China.

Some firms claim that they have come to China because they do not have to spend as much on treating pollutants as they do in their own countries. If so the paper said, theses companies should be fully aware that China is now tightening controls on pollutant discharge and setting higher demands on pollutant treatment.
The 'China Daily' said that the lack of supervision by local governments and their profit-oriented policies in seeking investment have encouraged some transnational firms to slacken their controls on pollutant treatment.

The paper also pointed out that the lack of concern for environmental protection on the part of the general public in China has also allowed these companies to focus solely on making profits without considering the environmental impact.