Xi Jinping shifts control of PLA audit office to military's top decision-making body
Central Military Commission to directly oversee military office that monitors spending but move could run into departmental resistance
The Central Military Commission has taken direct control of the PLA's audit office, the Defence Ministry announced yesterday, a move experts said would strengthen President Xi Jinping's campaign to root out graft in the army.
The office was supervised by the military's General Logistics Department, which has come under scrutiny since its deputy chief, Gu Junshan , was charged with crimes including bribery and embezzlement.
Gu was reportedly a close ally of disgraced retired top general Xu Caihou, who is expected to be indicted soon on bribery charges.
The decision to change oversight of the office was made at a meeting on reforming the military's audit system and attended by top brass in Beijing yesterday, the ministry said. The order was signed by Xi, who is chairman of the CMC.
PLA watchers hailed the move. "The new policy will stop the previous abnormal relationship between the audit office and the logistics department, which is responsible for almost all the army's expenditure, but also oversaw all auditing jobs," Beijing-based military expert Li Jie said.
The logistics department is also responsible for the military's manufacturing wing, supply chain, transport, housing and medical services.
"After the new rule, the audit office will be more independent … as it is now directly managed by the CMC," Li said.