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| Ex-Military Leader in China Is Subject of Graft Inquiry | Ex-Military Leader in China Is Subject of Graft Inquiry |
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| HONG KONG — A former commander of the People’s Liberation Army was expelled from the Chinese Communist Party and placed under investigation for graft crimes on Thursday, becoming the most senior military figure brought down in President Xi Jinping’s campaign against corruption. | |
| The fall of retired Gen. Guo Boxiong had been rumored since last year, and was hinted at in Chinese news reports earlier this year that laid out graft accusations against his son. But the party’s announcement of charges against General Guo amounted to an emphatic rejection of assertions that Mr. Xi was losing his appetite for investigating top-level corruption, or for “fighting tigers,” in his often-quoted words. | The fall of retired Gen. Guo Boxiong had been rumored since last year, and was hinted at in Chinese news reports earlier this year that laid out graft accusations against his son. But the party’s announcement of charges against General Guo amounted to an emphatic rejection of assertions that Mr. Xi was losing his appetite for investigating top-level corruption, or for “fighting tigers,” in his often-quoted words. |
| “The notion that hunting tigers has slowed can be laid to rest,” said a commentary issued online by the People’s Daily, the party’s main newspaper, about General Guo. | “The notion that hunting tigers has slowed can be laid to rest,” said a commentary issued online by the People’s Daily, the party’s main newspaper, about General Guo. |
| He derived illicit riches from his influence over promotions in the People’s Liberation Army, said the party leaders’ decision, issued by Xinhua, the main official news agency. | He derived illicit riches from his influence over promotions in the People’s Liberation Army, said the party leaders’ decision, issued by Xinhua, the main official news agency. |
| “An investigation has found that Guo Boxiong exploited his positions to seek gain for others through postings and promotions,” said the decision of the party’s Politburo, an elite council with 25 members. He “directly or through family members accepted bribes, gravely violating party discipline, and he is suspected of the crime of bribery.” | “An investigation has found that Guo Boxiong exploited his positions to seek gain for others through postings and promotions,” said the decision of the party’s Politburo, an elite council with 25 members. He “directly or through family members accepted bribes, gravely violating party discipline, and he is suspected of the crime of bribery.” |
| The Politburo said the decision to authorize a criminal inquiry against General Guo, 73, showed no official was insulated from scrutiny for misdeeds. “There will be absolutely no appeasement, absolutely no soft-handedness,” the council said. | The Politburo said the decision to authorize a criminal inquiry against General Guo, 73, showed no official was insulated from scrutiny for misdeeds. “There will be absolutely no appeasement, absolutely no soft-handedness,” the council said. |
| The party also acknowledged implicitly that General Guo, China’s most senior serving military officer for a decade until late 2012, was deeply corrupt, if the allegations were true. | The party also acknowledged implicitly that General Guo, China’s most senior serving military officer for a decade until late 2012, was deeply corrupt, if the allegations were true. |
| “The circumstances are grave and the effects have been malign,” the Politburo said in its announcement. | “The circumstances are grave and the effects have been malign,” the Politburo said in its announcement. |
| Dozens of other investigations since Mr. Xi become party leader in November 2012 indicate his concern that widespread graft, including the buying and selling of promotions, has corroded the readiness and loyalty of China’s military. | |
| Retired Gen. Xu Caihou, another former vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, admitted to taking bribes in return for providing promotions and favors, according to official news media accounts, and he would almost certainly have faced trial and conviction if he had not died from bladder cancer in March. Andrew Wedeman, a professor of political science at Georgia State University who studies corruption in China, estimated that under Mr. Xi about 55 senior military officers, serving or retired, have been detained in antigraft cases. | Retired Gen. Xu Caihou, another former vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, admitted to taking bribes in return for providing promotions and favors, according to official news media accounts, and he would almost certainly have faced trial and conviction if he had not died from bladder cancer in March. Andrew Wedeman, a professor of political science at Georgia State University who studies corruption in China, estimated that under Mr. Xi about 55 senior military officers, serving or retired, have been detained in antigraft cases. |
| “It shows that Xi is willing to press his attack, even if it means taking on the military,” Professor Wedeman said in emailed comments. “I think that the increased intensity of the anti-corruption campaign is here to stay.” | “It shows that Xi is willing to press his attack, even if it means taking on the military,” Professor Wedeman said in emailed comments. “I think that the increased intensity of the anti-corruption campaign is here to stay.” |
| Before retiring in 2012, General Guo had ascended to the apex of China’s military establishment as a vice chairman of the Central Military Commission. He ranked above General Xu, the other vice chairman toppled on corruption charges, and both men served in the Politburo, one of the party’s innermost rings of power. | Before retiring in 2012, General Guo had ascended to the apex of China’s military establishment as a vice chairman of the Central Military Commission. He ranked above General Xu, the other vice chairman toppled on corruption charges, and both men served in the Politburo, one of the party’s innermost rings of power. |
| But starting earlier this year, General Guo went through the now-established pattern of defenestration for Chinese officials charged with graft. In rumors and online, he acquired the nickname of “the wolf of the northwest,” a reference to the part of China where he had spent time earlier in his career, and also to his reputation for voracious greed. | But starting earlier this year, General Guo went through the now-established pattern of defenestration for Chinese officials charged with graft. In rumors and online, he acquired the nickname of “the wolf of the northwest,” a reference to the part of China where he had spent time earlier in his career, and also to his reputation for voracious greed. |
| His family came under scrutiny, and in March the Chinese military confirmed that his son, Guo Zhenggang, also a senior officer, was under investigation for corruption. Chinese magazines and newspapers also revealed allegations that the son and his wife had enriched themselves in illegal property deals using military-owned land. | His family came under scrutiny, and in March the Chinese military confirmed that his son, Guo Zhenggang, also a senior officer, was under investigation for corruption. Chinese magazines and newspapers also revealed allegations that the son and his wife had enriched themselves in illegal property deals using military-owned land. |
| In June, Zhou Yongkang, the party’s former head of domestic security and law enforcement, was found guilty of taking bribes and other crimes and sentenced to life in prison. Professor Wedeman said Mr. Xi’s anticorruption drive may not have more targets left of Mr. Zhou’s or General Guo’s seniority. | In June, Zhou Yongkang, the party’s former head of domestic security and law enforcement, was found guilty of taking bribes and other crimes and sentenced to life in prison. Professor Wedeman said Mr. Xi’s anticorruption drive may not have more targets left of Mr. Zhou’s or General Guo’s seniority. |
| “That does not mean that a big tiger will not be bagged from time to time,” he said. | “That does not mean that a big tiger will not be bagged from time to time,” he said. |