Chinese military officials to be audited before promotion

Chinese military officials will be required to go through a thorough audit before they are promoted or retire, the Central Military Commission said in a guideline Tuesday. Military officers who are recommended as candidates for regimental commander-level posts or above, those who will retire, and those who will be transferred to civilian posts will have to undergo an audit before leaving their posts, according to the guideline. The move "will have significant and far-reaching impact on strengthening the management and supervision of military officials, improving their work style and fighting against corruption," according to the guideline. The audit will target officials' real estate property, their use of power, official cars and service personnel. Officials from units or enterprises affiliated with the military will also be included in the auditing. Military officials will be transferred or removed from their current posts if they fail to "fulfill their economic responsibilities" or seriously violate relevant regulations, according to the guideline. The move to promote clean work styles in the military came as part of a more comprehensive campaign against corruption launched by the Communist Party of China at the end of 2012. In December, the CPC leadership began to promote an "eight-point" set of guidelines to ban extravagance and formalism from events attended by officials. As part of its endeavor to fight power abuse and corruption, the military adopted new military vehicle plates in May. Military plates entitle drivers to legal privileges, including exemption from road tolls and parking fees, and in the past have been given to friends and family members as favors.