The negative impact in the wake of former Central Military Commission (CMC) vice chairman Xu Caihou's corruption case needs to be eliminated and the army must follow the Party central leadership, Fan Changlong, the current CMC vice chairman said on Thursday

"The impact of Xu Caihou's case must be eliminated resolutely," said Fan during an inspection tour in Tianjin.

Fan said the anti-corruption campaign should continue in the military, and soldiers' interests should be protected.

Fan also urged the army to study CMC chairman Xi Jinping's speeches on national defence and military modernization, to hone their fighting skills and to be combat ready.