PLA cuts back on pomp and ceremony

The People's Liberation Army says it has been reducing entertainment expenses and ostentatious displays for leaders' inspection visits following Communist Party chief Xi Jinping's recent call for cutbacks to pomp and ceremony.

The PLA Daily has carried a series of commentaries and reports since Sunday, highlighting some military units' achievements in a recent campaign against waste and corruption.

Meanwhile, in a high-level meeting yesterday involving the troops headquarters of politics, general staff, logistics and armament, the military's top brass urged senior officers to set examples in upholding disciplines and resisting corruption.

General Fan Changlong, the vice-chairman of PLA's decision-making Central Military Commission, said that building up a proper attitude within the army was an issue with overriding priority in terms of winning wars and maintaining its nature - listening to the order of the party exclusively, according to Xinhua.

Fan said that all levels of leading officers should remain cautious, humble and prudent, as well as keeping a close eye on their subordinates and relatives.

"All headquarters … should ensure meritocracy, fairness and eradicate corruption," Fan said.