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Military court charges ex-PLA officer over corruption
Gu Junshan, a former senior military logistics officer, was charged with embezzlement, bribery, misuse of State funds and abuse of power, said China's military prosecutor on March 31.

Probed PLA officer’s lavish life revealed
The lavish lifestyle of Gu Junshan, a senior People's Liberation Army (PLA) officer who has reportedly been under investigation for corruption over the past two years, has been revealed by media amid the country's heavy-handed anti-graft fight.

About Gu Junshan

The "General's Residence"

Comments

There is grave corruption in the military especially in the logistics sector, but revelations on the military's graft fight is always kept off the radar for the sake of the military's image. The case has aroused attention, so the [authority's] current tolerance for publicizing such an exposé could serve as an explanation to the public [of the case]. ---An anti-graft expert, who asked to remain anonymous

China's military is put under a major test due to the rising tension surrounding the country. In order to shore up the public's confidence, the authorities should be more open and transparent in building a clean military. ---Ni Xing, a professor with the Center for Anti-Corruption Studies of Sun Yat-sen University

Global Times (Chinese edition)
The times are changing. The Gu Junshan case proves the importance of supervision and transparency. In the past, the army was far away from public opinion. While in some ways this was a question of protecting confidential information, it turns out that excessive secrecy is a double-edged sword.

We should allow and encourage media to keep close tabs on the army and military officials. Openness is an essential point of modern national defense. It provides a channel for the public to better understand and support the armed forces.

The Beijing News
This case demonstrates the lack of local democracy and rule of law while revealing the weakness of the supervision system. Gu's corruption had a deep negative social impact, and shows local restriction has limited effect on the crackdown of corruption.

Changjiang Daily
Though anti-corruption efforts have been quite arduous, we must remember this is an urgent issue. Corrupt officials such as Gu Junshan not only breed social injustice, tarnish the image of officials and undermine the integrity of authority, but also foreshadow a larger State crisis. While building a system to curb corruption is a long-term project, we should stamp out corruption whenever possible.

Background

Under President Xi Jinping's direction to fight "tigers" and "flies" - powerful leaders and lowly officials - all together, China has conducted an unprecedented drive to fight corruption since the reform and opening-up.

Nearly 20,000 Chinese officials have been punished for breaches of new guidelines put in place in 2013, China's discipline watchdog said on December 2, 2013.

Among these, 4,675 Party members at different levels were found to have had involvement in 17,380 cases.

Xi Jinping's words

Photo: ifeng.com

● Xi Jinping noted that the Party faces many severe challenges and that there are many pressing problems within the Party, citing corruption, a separation from the people and bureaucracy. ● Xi Jinping has stressed that the fight against corruption is a long-term, complicated and arduous task. He said the fight must address both the symptoms and root causes, and combine punishment with prevention, with an emphasis on prevention. ● All members of the Communist Party of China (CPC), especially the leading cadres of the Party, must consolidate their ideal and conviction, always put the people above everything else, and exalt the Party's glorious tradition and fine conduct. We must resolutely reject formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism and extravagance, and resolutely fight against corruption and other misconduct in all manifestations. ● To further promote anti-corruption efforts, we need to carry forward the successful experiences gained through the Party's long-term anti-corruption practice. We need to actively draw on effective practices conducted by foreign countries around the world, and our own valuable heritage. ●Preventing the Party from being corrupted in its long-term rule of the country is a major political mission. And we must do it right.

Battling military graft

● The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) and armed police forces will introduce new license plates for their vehicles to curb the misuse of military vehicles and plates, a senior officer said on March 29, 2013.

Unless registered as military equipment, some vehicles, including Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Lincoln, Cadillac, Volkswagen Phaeton, Bentley, Jaguar, Porsche, Land Rover and Audi Q7, will not receive the new license plates, according to Zhao Keshi, head of the PLA's General Logistics Department.

● China's Central Military Commission (CMC) issued documents ordering strengthened military inspections in order to unearth corruption and irregularities on October 29, 2013.

● Military officers who are recommended as candidates for regimental commander-level posts or above, those who will retire, and those who will be transferred to civilian posts will have to undergo an audit before leaving their posts, read a latest guideline released by the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the Communist Party of China, which also said that officials from military-affiliated units or enterprises will also be audited.

Chasing 'Tigers and Flies'

GT Daily special: China's crackdown on corruption in 2013

Web editor: gelili@globaltimes.com.cn