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Chinese crackdown aims to break vicious circle of military corruption Chinese crackdown aims to break vicious circle of military corruption
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Its budget rises by double digits annually, its first aircraft carrier has taken to the seas, and its growing assertiveness stirs anxiety in the region and the west. China's 2.3 million-strong People's Liberation Army is also the focus of deep concern at home, and one of the biggest causes of disquiet is the enemy within: corruption. It has a huge and growing budget, its first aircraft carrier has taken to the seas, and its increasing assertiveness stirs anxiety in the region and the west. China's 2.3 million-strong People's Liberation Army is also the focus of deep concern at home, and one of the biggest causes of disquiet is the enemy within: corruption.
President Xi Jinping has told PLA commanders they must be ready to fight and win wars – comments that have been read by some as a sign of swaggering confidence. But others argue that Xi's words underline profound worries about a force that has not been tested in combat for decades. "A corrupt army has no ability to fight and cannot win wars," warned a commentary carried widely across Chinese news sites on Monday, claiming that corruption had reached "an unprecedented level". President Xi Jinping has told PLA commanders they must be ready to fight and win wars – comments that have been read by some as a sign of swaggering confidence. But others say Xi's words underline profound worries about a force that has not been tested in combat for decades.
"A corrupt army has no ability to fight and cannot win wars," warned a commentary carried widely across Chinese news sites on Monday, claiming that corruption had reached "an unprecedented level".
Last week the PLA promised to intensify an anti-corruption drive that began late last year. The crackdown is not just about tackling public disaffection or raising internal morale. "Corruption has eaten at a lot of the core competences," said Tai Ming Cheung, director of the Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation at the University of California, San Diego.Last week the PLA promised to intensify an anti-corruption drive that began late last year. The crackdown is not just about tackling public disaffection or raising internal morale. "Corruption has eaten at a lot of the core competences," said Tai Ming Cheung, director of the Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation at the University of California, San Diego.
Selling posts – often for the equivalent of hundreds of thousands of pounds each – results in inferior personnel, while kickbacks and embezzlement in procurement lead to cut corners or reduced capability. Experts warn of a vicious circle as officers who have paid for their places seek to recoup the cost. Selling posts – often for the equivalent of hundreds of thousands of pounds each – results in inferior personnel, while kickbacks and embezzlement in procurement lead to cut corners and reduced capability. Experts warn of a vicious circle as officers who have paid for their places seek to recoup the cost.
Xi has made it clear that the anti-corruption campaign is a priority, and is pushing forward with other measures including a major restructuring and attempts to upgrade the calibre of recruits by attracting graduates. Xi has made it clear that the anti-corruption campaign is a priority, and is pushing forward with other measures, including major restructuring and attempts to upgrade the calibre of recruits by attracting graduates.
Not only did he take charge of the top military body as soon as he became civilian leader – his predecessor, Hu Jintao, had to wait two years – but he is tied to the forces as Hu was not. His father was a guerrilla leader; he was aide to a military leader in his youth; his wife, Peng Liyuan, was a famed army singer; and he is close to Liu Yuan, the well-connected political commissar of the logistics department, who made waves with a fiery internal speech on the "do or die" struggle against corruption in 2012. The president took charge of the top military body as soon as he became civilian leader – his predecessor, Hu Jintao, had to wait two years – and he is tied to the forces as Hu was not. His father was a guerrilla leader before the revolution; Xi himself was aide to a military leader in his youth; his wife, Peng Liyuan, was a famed army singer; and he is close to Liu Yuan, the well-connected political commissar of the logistics department who made waves with a fiery internal speech on the "do or die" struggle against corruption in 2012.
"It is not that he has deep military experience, but he has deep military interest," said Cheung, who noted that Xi made a dozen military visits in his first year as chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), compared with Hu's two in the same period. "Is he just arranging the deckchairs or can he pursue the deeper structural reforms that he signalled?" Cheung added."It is not that he has deep military experience, but he has deep military interest," said Cheung, who noted that Xi made a dozen military visits in his first year as chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), compared with Hu's two in the same period. "Is he just arranging the deckchairs or can he pursue the deeper structural reforms that he signalled?" Cheung added.
In March, officials laid charges of embezzlement, bribery, abuse of power and misuse of state funds against the highest ranking officer to stand trial since 2006. Gu Junshan, a former logistics chief, was initially detained under Hu's leadership, but it was Xi who pushed through and broadened the investigation. In March, a former logistics chief was charged with embezzlement, bribery, abuse of power and misuse of state funds, making him the highest ranking officer to stand trial since 2006. Gu Junshan was initially detained under Hu's leadership, but it was Xi who pushed through and broadened the investigation.
Reports allege that Gu sold hundreds of positions and that his assets may have been worth billions of dollars. Items confiscated from one of his many properties included a Mao statue made of gold. Reports allege that Gu sold hundreds of positions and that he may have billions of dollars of assets. Items confiscated from one of his many properties included a Mao statue made of gold.
No one doubts that the rot goes further. His friend and protector Xu Caihou was placed under investigation while undergoing treatment for cancer. Last month Xinhua warned that inspectors had found problems in the Beijing and Jinan military commands – the latter being where Xu previously served. Whether the Chinese leadership is ultimately willing to bring charges against the former vice-chair of the CMC remains to be seen.No one doubts that the rot goes further. His friend and protector Xu Caihou was placed under investigation while undergoing treatment for cancer. Last month Xinhua warned that inspectors had found problems in the Beijing and Jinan military commands – the latter being where Xu previously served. Whether the Chinese leadership is ultimately willing to bring charges against the former vice-chair of the CMC remains to be seen.
Even as the campaign got off the ground at the end of last year, Xinhua warned of "special difficulties" in tackling corruption, citing the military ethos of unconditional obedience to superiors.Even as the campaign got off the ground at the end of last year, Xinhua warned of "special difficulties" in tackling corruption, citing the military ethos of unconditional obedience to superiors.
It is not the first attempt to tackle the problem. Current regulations are so specific that they ban excessively lavish office stationery, "costly gym activities" and self-promoting activities – along with "being divorced from reality". In the last major crackdown, at the end of the 1990s, the PLA was ordered to divest itself of commercial operations. Experts say much economic activity simply went underground.It is not the first attempt to tackle the problem. Current regulations are so specific that they ban excessively lavish office stationery, "costly gym activities" and self-promoting activities – along with "being divorced from reality". In the last major crackdown, at the end of the 1990s, the PLA was ordered to divest itself of commercial operations. Experts say much economic activity simply went underground.
Some observers think Xi may be looking beyond the immediate problems. They see a parallel with the way the anti-corruption drive in the party and state-owned enterprises allows the promotion of sympathisers and sends a warning to those resisting economic reforms.Some observers think Xi may be looking beyond the immediate problems. They see a parallel with the way the anti-corruption drive in the party and state-owned enterprises allows the promotion of sympathisers and sends a warning to those resisting economic reforms.
This year the Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun reported that the PLA was planning the most significant structural changes for almost three decades, moving from a system based on geographic regions to one focused on military missions, with the loss of around 300,000 ground personnel – though some, it seems, might be transferred to the paramilitary police. This year the Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun reported that the PLA was planning the most significant structural changes for almost three decades, moving from a system based on geographic regions to one focused on military missions, with the loss of about 300,000 ground personnel – though some, it seems, may be transferred to the paramilitary police.
Official media gave conflicting responses. James Mulvenon wrote in China Leadership Monitor that the essential message seemed to be: "We are going to refute this report while actually implementing what the report says."Official media gave conflicting responses. James Mulvenon wrote in China Leadership Monitor that the essential message seemed to be: "We are going to refute this report while actually implementing what the report says."
Though PLA ranks have been thinned substantially over the years, the new move would go beyond getting rid of "peasants in plimsolls" to slimming parts of the officer corps too.Though PLA ranks have been thinned substantially over the years, the new move would go beyond getting rid of "peasants in plimsolls" to slimming parts of the officer corps too.
But changes have been talked about for decades. "There's a window of opportunity for him to push structural reform, but if he can't do it in the next year or so it will go back to the status quo," argued Cheung.But changes have been talked about for decades. "There's a window of opportunity for him to push structural reform, but if he can't do it in the next year or so it will go back to the status quo," argued Cheung.
Andrew Scobell, senior political analyst at the Rand Corporation, said China's military as currently structured was poorly positioned to wage "limited war under conditions of informatisation" – the core mission set out by Hu. But he said he would be very surprised to see "wholesale, across-the-board changes".Andrew Scobell, senior political analyst at the Rand Corporation, said China's military as currently structured was poorly positioned to wage "limited war under conditions of informatisation" – the core mission set out by Hu. But he said he would be very surprised to see "wholesale, across-the-board changes".
The desire to push through structural reforms might actually deter Xi from targeting abuses too zealously, lest it alienate an important constituency, he suggested. "Xi certainly has military allies who also see corruption as sapping the discipline and operational readiness of the PLA, [but] no one within the military is too happy about washing their dirty linen in public."The desire to push through structural reforms might actually deter Xi from targeting abuses too zealously, lest it alienate an important constituency, he suggested. "Xi certainly has military allies who also see corruption as sapping the discipline and operational readiness of the PLA, [but] no one within the military is too happy about washing their dirty linen in public."