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Corruption in China
ChinaMilitary

To win wars, PLA must fight corruption, China’s military mouthpiece declares

Military ‘must not be a hiding place for corrupt elements’, PLA Daily warns following major reshuffle at Communist Party conclave

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Zhang Shengmin has been promoted to vice-chair of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC). Photo: Handout
William Zhengin Hong KongandAlcott Weiin Beijing

China’s military mouthpiece has described political loyalty and fighting corruption as crucial for winning wars, a day after a Communist Party conclave endorsed a reshuffle and anti-corruption drive in the armed forces.

At the fourth plenum of the party’s Central Committee, which concluded on Thursday, the military’s anti-corruption chief, Zhang Shengmin, was promoted to vice-chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC) headed by President Xi Jinping.
Party leaders also endorsed the decision to expel nine generals from the Central Committee, including Zhang’s predecessor, He Weidong.
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The PLA Daily hailed these changes in an editorial on Friday, adding that the anti-corruption drive would continue and help boost war-readiness.

“The army holds the gun barrel [for the party], and it must not be a hiding place for corrupt elements,” the editorial said.

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It called for political indoctrination to be implemented and for the People’s Liberation Army to adhere to political guidance when carrying out China’s military modernisation, accelerating the development of “advanced combat capabilities” and promoting the modernisation of military governance.

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