‘Eliminate toxic influences’: China’s military issues new political guidelines in wake of corruption wave
The rules follow a series of scandals that have seen a dozen senior PLA commanders being placed under investigation
The regulations, released by the Central Military Commission (CMC), were designed to “strengthen political loyalty”, according to the official newspaper PLA Daily. The report stressed the importance of Communist Party officials embedded within the military “acting with fairness and integrity in personnel matters, and leading by example”.
A separate commentary published by the newspaper on Monday said the new rules drew “clear political red lines, boundaries on the exercise of power and limits on social interactions”, and “represented a solemn commitment to the entire military”.
The report did not say when the new rules had been issued and the full text has not been made public.
The guidelines come in the wake of an anti-corruption purge in which more than a dozen People’s Liberation Army generals and some defence industry executives have come under investigation.
President Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasised the importance of party loyalty to strengthen ideological control and to support China’s goal of becoming a military superpower.
The PLA Daily said cadres were required to “set an example through their own actions, and inspire the troops and earn the trust of officers and soldiers through a strong work ethic and exemplary image”.