Regulation standardizes PLA officers' benefits
Strictly regulating high-level military officers keeps the military in order, military experts noted on Tuesday after the release of a regulation that standardizes the benefits for senior military officers.
The Central Military Commission (CMC) recently released a regulation standardizing the benefits of military officers at or above corps level, including offices, housing, vehicles and medical services, the Xinhua News Agency reported Tuesday.
The regulation also requires such officers to have the appropriate number of staff as stipulated, showing the CMC's commitment to strict military governance, it said.
The regulation will take effect on January 1, 2018, Xinhua reported.
"Strictly managing high-level military officers is key to strictly managing the military, as their behavior has a significant impact on the whole military," Li Daguang, a professor at the National Defense University of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), told the Global Times on Tuesday.
Li noted that it is imperative to strictly regulate top military officers to set an example for soldiers at the grass-roots level and to prevent corruption.
Apart from the regulation on officers, the CMC also issued an alcohol ban to foster a disciplined and honest atmosphere beneficial to the military, Li said.
The Regulation on the Prohibition of Unapproved Dinner and Alcohol Drinking, or the "strictest alcohol ban in history," was enforced on the PLA and the Armed Police Force in September.
The regulation warns that the PLA and military officers at all levels should not drink alcohol while on duty, on bases or in uniform.
It also added occasions when soldiers and officers are not allowed to drink or even bring alcohol.
Many soldiers and officers have avoided alcohol since the ban took effect, and even urged their fellow soldiers to do the same, Li said.
Troops in Baoding, North China's Hebei Province, interact with personnel outside of the base by text and voice calls to check if they drink alcohol, or even call their families to make inquiries, according to a People's Daily report published on Monday.
