PLA vows rule of law(2)

RULE OF LAW

Facing a complicated and changing security situation, the PLA shoulders heavy tasks in safeguarding state sovereignty, security and development interests, according to the CMC bureau of legislative affairs, adding the PLA should expand its legal system to cover military actions at sea, in outer space and cyberspace.

Wang said the military's legal system has been steadily improved. The top legislature revised the Military Service Law in 2011 for the third time. The PLA introduced a 17-article auditing regulation to step up the fight against corruption in the military in July.

The lack of external inspection and supervision of the military gives rise to problems such as squandering and graft, he said, adding that loopholes in the military's legal system have become lucrative opportunities for personal gain.

The PLA has stepped up oversight of its officials since last year, part of the CPC's extensive campaign to root out extravagance and corruption. Not only "tigers" like Gu Junshan, a former senior military logistics officer, and Xu Caihou, former CMC vice chairman, are under investigation, but military officers' daily habits like gift giving, vehicles and travel are also subject to close scrutiny.

According to the PLA auditing regulation, all malpractice uncovered by the PLA auditing office will be transferred to military law enforcers.

Zhao Keshi, head of the PLA General Logistics Department, said auditors will watch over military funds, expenditures and assets closely. Zhao also said all economic activities of the military will be audited, and officers may not be promoted or retire without first going through the auditing process.

The PLA has ordered officers to give back extra properties if they have more than one military-owned apartment or their combined size exceeds the allowance for their rank. Secretaries and office attendants that were not allowed have been eliminated, and the use of military vehicles has been strictly regulated.

Wang said all these measures indicate that on the path to building a strong army, all officers, no matter their rank, must follow rules. The army should be built under the rule of law and power should be shut in a "cage of regulations," added Wang.

Experts urged the PLA to always remain clear-minded and strictly observe discipline to guarantee a strong military, as irregularities will destroy the PLA's combat capability.

Meanwhile, in an article carried by Wednesday's PLA Daily, the CMC bureau of legislative affairs warned of hidden infiltration into the military by hostile forces, and reiterated the CPC's absolute leadership over the PLA.