Opinion | Xi Jinping goes hunting for the 'tigers' of the PLA
The arrests of two top generals said to have amassed private fortunes have put the military on notice that the days of plunder are over
Xu Caihou - one of the most powerful PLA generals over the past decade until his retirement late in 2012 - showed up at the Great Hall of the People on January 20 for the annual Lunar New Year gala performance for retired senior military officers.
As 70-year-old Xu walked into a room before the performance began, his presence immediately attracted attention among serving and retired military leaders. He had long been rumoured to be the target of a high-level anti-graft probe after one of his closest allies in the PLA was arrested on corruption charges.
During the wait, he tried to strike up a conversation with Xi Jinping, also the chairman of the Central Military Commission, gushing praise for the president's high-profile crackdown on corruption and extravagance and waste, according to people briefed about the encounter.
Xi was said to have listened without responding, but the sight of Xu talking to the president was apparently taken by his allies as a sure sign that he was off the hook. It was customary for authorities to allow an official rumoured to be investigated for corruption to make a public appearance to prove he was in the clear, let alone having the chance to talk to the head of the armed forces.
Following the conversation, several senior officers who owed their promotions to Xu immediately approached him, fawning on him with military salutes and compliments about his health. All this was clearly taken in by Xi.
It turns out that those senior military officers must have deeply regretted their actions, as this was most probably the last public appearance by Xu.