For the first time after 1997, locals were invited to observe the live-fire exercise of the PLA Hong Kong Garrison on July 4. (Photo : China Daily)
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is set to fix 69 financial irregularities and close all the loopholes in its treasury by issuing a recent regulation.
Under the regulation issued by the PLA's Leading Group of Financial Inspectors, the distortions include adjustments made to budgets without proper approvals, appropriation or embezzlement of designated funds, irregular granting of subsidies or allowances, and excessive spending on receptions and entertainment.
This is in line with the Chinese military’s ongoing campaign on “financial discipline,” which has started in February.
The goal of the campaign was to make sure military funding is spent to improve combat capability rather than other purposes.
"Some corrupt officers used loopholes in the financial system to embezzle public funds and engage in other irregularities, but we were unable to punish them because their behavior had not been listed as irregular in previous regulations," said a PLA auditor who refused to be named.
"Now we have specific clauses in the new regulation to cope with them,” added the auditor.
The PLA units found to have flaws should be corrected promptly, according to the rule.
Individuals who also used public funds inappropriately should surrender the money in exchange for a lesser penalty.
Still, the regulation emphasized that officers who purposely withstand the rules after October must receive heavy penalties.
An important PLA meeting presided by President Xi Jinping in late October has been regarded by the military as a breakthrough in its attempts to fight against corruption.
The PLA requests all central departments and regional commands to make their own rules based on their unique conditions.
It also urges them to close all loopholes in their financial management.
A host of problems were already uncovered, including falsification of evidence and concealment of facts, during the inspections on the PLA's seven regional military commands before June.
