PLA restates allegiance to Xi Jinping after Zhou corruption probe announced
Announcement comes in the wake of launching of official probe of former security tsar
The army has restated its allegiance to President Xi Jinping following the announcement of a corruption probe against former security tsar Zhou Yongkang.
An article published on the website of the PLA Daily on the eve of today's anniversary of the army's founding day said officers would fully support the anti-corruption drive and remain loyal to the Communist Party - a move that indicates Xi has full control of the military.
Analysts said the move against Zhou, and the earlier decision to investigate Xu Caihou, a former vice-chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission, signified that Xi had consolidated his support within the party and the military.
The army must "firmly follow the stalwart determination behind the crackdown against graft … and fight for the anti-graft campaign to the end", the PLA Daily said. It added the military pledged to "resist the temptation of power, money and seduction".
State media also reported yesterday that Xi, who chairs the Central Military Commission that governs the PLA, inspected troops in Fujian on Wednesday - a day after the party announced the disciplinary probe against Zhou.
Xi spent 17 years of his political career, until 2002, in the province, starting as a deputy mayor of Xiamen before becoming provincial governor.
Xi called for deeper military reform and greater preparedness, Xinhua reported. He also said corruption within the military should be eradicated.