Military to step up anti-graft campaign

File photo of Gao Xiaoyan. Gao Xiaoyan served as political commissar and discipline inspector of the PLA Information Engineering University before being taken away by military prosecutors. She was the first female general to be snared since China's drastic anti-corruption campaign launched in 2012. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]

In October, Xu Caihou, former vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, confessed to accepting huge bribes and taking advantage of his position to assist the promotion of other people, becoming the highest profile figure in China's military to be caught up in the war on corruption.

Ma Gang, a professor at the PLA National Defense University, said the anti-corruption campaign helps the army to improve its capability and better shoulder its responsibility, including tackling security challenges faced by the country.

The campaign, which also addresses the buying and selling of senior jobs in the military, could lead to a better promotion mechanism for military officers, so that those with talent will not be cast aside, he added.

The ongoing drive coincided with a reshuffling of military officials.

According to PLA Daily, Wang Jianping, former commander of the armed police force, became a deputy chief of the General Staff of the PLA.

Miao Hua, former head of the Lanzhou Military Area Command, was appointed as the new political commissar of the PLA navy, the newspaper said on Thursday.

A larger list of senior military officers' position changes has also been circulating on the Internet recently, giving rise to speculation that the reshuffle is related to the anti-corruption campaign.

In reference to the list, Yang, the spokesman, said that according to military regulations, the PLA transfers personnel every year and "it is a normal personnel arrangement".

Contact the writer at zhaoshengnan@chinadaily.com.cn