inaction

"What we're doing is maintaining US strategic interest in the Western hemisphere," he said, warning that inaction risked a "failed state".

Since Xi took power in 2012, party inspectors have punished more than 6.2 million people for offenses that include corruption, bureaucratic inaction and the leaking of state secrets.

That inaction, he says, needs to change, with both regulators and large businesses taking more responsibility.

Around City Hall, news of the council’s inaction set off speculation about whether it was the result of a scheduling mix-up — or because Southers’ backers didn’t believe he could get enough votes.

“More often than not, it’s just political theater that serves to excuse inaction and ineffective policies.”