XU CAIHOU, former vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and his case handed over to prosecutors, the CPC Central Committee announced yesterday.

    The decision was made earlier in the day at a meeting of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, presided over by President Xi Jinping.

    Investigations found that Xu took advantage of his post to assist the promotion of other people and accepted bribes personally and through his family members, according to a statement announced after the meeting.

    He was also found to have sought profits for others in exchange for money and properties, taken through his family members.

    “His case is serious and leaves a vile impact,” the statement said.

    Xu had been under investigation for disciplinary violations since March 15 and his case has now been handed over to the military procuratorate.

    Born in 1943, Xu was made a general in 1999 and was CMC vice chairman from 2004 to 2012.

    The investigators tasked with his case displayed firm resolve and a zero-tolerance policy for corruption within the Party and armed forces, according to the statement.

    “The whole Party and armed forces should be fully aware of the time-consuming, complicated and tough mission of fighting corruption,” it said.

    “Anyone, no matter what position of authority he holds, will receive serious punishment for violating Party disciplinary codes and laws. We will never compromise, nor will we show mercy.”

    To carry out the CPC’s political decisions, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) should follow a strict standard in terms of discipline, the statement said, vowing that the Party “will not harbor corrupt members, nor will the armed forces.”

    For the Party and people, the PLA must always be trustworthy, the statement warned. The CPC leadership urged the armed forces to educate officers and soldiers to carry on good traditions, and maintain firm political status and high moral standards.(Xinhua)