China is continuing reforms in its military as it sets up anti-corruption units in various military departments and commands. (Photo : Reuters)
For the first time, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has placed anti-corruption units to check on its restructured departments and commands, which was patterned after those set up in civilian government offices and organs of the Communist Party, the South China Morning Post reported.
The graft inspectors, who had completed their two-day training in Beijing on Wednesday, May 4, will be divided into 10 groups and will be sent out to various commands and departments under the Central Military Commission (CMC), the PLA Daily reported on Thursday, May 5.
It was not clear how the 10 teams would be divided but the report said that several units will be placed under the supervision of the units.
According to the report, the setting up of the unit is part of efforts to rid the world's largest military of corruption, under President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign.
Several officers, including two former top generals of the PLA, Xu Caihou and Guo Boxiong, were among those charged with corruption in the crackdown. Xu and Guo, who retired in 2013, are former deputy chairmen of the CMC.
The success of the corruption crackdown in the party and the civil services paved the way for the establishment of the anti-corruption units in the military, retired major general Xu Guangyu said. He added that the disciplinary units would be effective in curbing graft in the military.
At least 47 disciplinary inspection units in all central party and state organizations--a total of 139 entities--were established, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the party's top graft watchdog, announced in January.
Other graft watchdogs have also set up similar units at the provincial level.
China has completed the revamp in its military organization in January, and split up and reformed the four general headquarters. The military's discipline commission was also placed directly under the CMC as one of its 15 new functional departments.
The reorganization of the military and curbing of corruption are part of Xi's efforts to strengthen the military, the report said.
