Xi Jinping cracks down on luxury mansion owners in PLA
Staff Reporter 2013-05-26 16:40
China's president, Xi Jinping, greets soldiers on May 23, 2013. (Photo/Xinhua)
China's president and chairman of CPC Central Military Commission, Xi Jinping, is cracking down on senior officers in the People's Liberation Army with luxurious mansions, reports our sister paper Want Daily.
The latest anti-corruption initiative, which began earlier this month, is expected to conclude before the National Day holidays in October and is reportedly aimed towards extravagant high ranking officials and the illegal sale or lease of military property.
The operation comes amid reports that Gu Junshan, the former deputy commander of the PLA's General Logistics Department, was sacked last February and is currently under investigation for alleged corruption, owning a 13,200 square meter mansion in Beijing. Gu is also said to be the owner of a second mansion in his hometown of Puyang in central China's Henan province, with each tree within the mansion's garden estimated to be worth at least 400,000 yuan (US$65,200).
Beijing will also look into claims that high ranking PLA officials are selling or leasing military property for personal gain. All sales and leases of PLA property must first obtain permission from the Central Military Commission, which owns all military property rights.
The move appears to be yet another push by Xi to eradicate official corruption in the Chinese military. Since being appointed chairman of the Central Military Commission last November, Xi has already launched a frugality campaign banning officials and state-owned companies from using public funds to hold lavish banquets and purchase luxury cars.
Liu Mingfu, a professor at the PLA National Defence University in Beijing, said that the sweeping anti-corruption measures initiated by Xi have stunned the PLA. Anti-corruption schemes must have high standards, be thorough, and value the voice of the people, Liu said, adding that the PLA must learn to accept public supervision.
