Beijing takes aim at clubs frequented by PLA generals to stifle networks of corruption
Off-duty groups have come under suspicion as networks for graft and a military newspaper warns membership will be strictly watched
Beijing has sharply restricted the activities of military generals outside the PLA, banning them from any organisation not closely under the government's watch and requiring they sever ties with cultural associations like calligraphy and painting clubs.
The generals have long embraced such bodies to show off the sophistication of their taste, but the networks have fallen under suspicion as conduits for graft. President Xi Jinping has made eliminating corruption in the military a top priority, as he seeks to ensure it remains loyal to the Communist Party.
The PLA Daily yesterday quoted an unnamed official as saying they could join only those clubs that were registered with the Civil Affairs Ministry and with the expressed permission of the military.
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The Daily specifically named calligraphy and painting clubs, and literary and photography associations as problematic.
Neither could they join any NGO registered overseas, including foundations, academies and research institutions without prior permission.
"As the military must be highly unified … entering such overseas organisations may be politically sensitive and thus require strict scrutiny before approval," the official was quoted as saying.
The push follows a call that Xi made in a meeting of top officers at Gutian in Fujian last October. He said the military must cleanse itself of the influence of Xu Caihou , a former vice-chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission.