The warning that China's finance minister recently made against subsidy-related fraud may sound harsh to domestic new-energy vehicle producers who have relied heavily on such government funds to kick-start a domestic boom of green cars.

But it does not mean the Chinese government is any less committed to making the country a champion of green cars.

Instead, such a precaution against the possible misuse of subsidies for new energy cars has highlighted the very high hopes Chinese policymakers are pinning on such cars for a low-carbon future.