Xu Caihou confesses to taking bribe

Xu Caihou, born in June 1943. • 1963-68: Student of the Electronics Engineering Department of Harbin Institute of Military Engineering • 1968-70: Worked on the farm of the 39th Army • 1970-85: Soldier and officer at the Shenyang Military Area Command • 1985-92: Officer of various units of the 16th Group Army of the Ground Force • 1992-96: Assistant director, deputy director of the PLA General Political Department • 1996-99: Political commissar of the Jinan Military Area Command and secretary of its Party committee • 1999-2000: Member of the Communist Party of China Central Military Commission, member of the Central Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China, executive deputy director of the PLA General Political Department, and deputy secretary of its Party Committee • 2000-02: Member of the CPC Central Military Commission, member of the Central Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China, and executive deputy director of the PLA General Political Department and concurrently secretary of the Discipline Inspection Committee of the CPC Central Military Commission and deputy secretary of the Party Committee of the PLA General Political Department • 2002-04: Member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, member of the CPC Central Military Commission, member of the Central Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China, and director of the PLA General Political Department and secretary of its Party committee • 2004-07: Member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, vice-chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission, member and vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China • 2007-12: Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, vice-chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission, and vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China

Military prosecutors have finished investigation of Xu's graft case and started the procedure to file the case, said a statement from the military procuratorate.

An investigation has found that Xu took advantage of his post to assist the promotion of other people and accepted bribes personally and through his family members.

He is also accused of seeking profits for others in exchange for money and properties, through his family members.

"Anyone, no matter what authority and office he holds, will receive serious punishment if found violating Party disciplines and laws," said a PLA Daily editorial in July.

As the armed forces to fulfill the Party's political mission, the PLA must not harbor any corrupt members. The PLA must be absolutely loyal, clean and reliable, it said.

The editorial urged education, management and supervision over Party members in the armed forces, especially middle-level and senior officers.

The PLA would continue its fight against corruption amid efforts to build a strong military, the editorial said.

The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the country's top decision-making body, pledged on June 30 to launch a reform of its discipline inspection system.

The move, which came as the CPC announced the outcome of the internal investigation of retired senior military leader Xu Caihou, is an important part of deepening the nation's overall reforms, the top ruling body said in a statement issued after a meeting presided over by Party chiefXi Jinping.

Members of CPC committees at all levels are urged to live up to their responsibility to fightcorruptionand maintain clean governance.

Anti-graft probes will be led by disciplinary watchdogs of higher rank than the body or official being investigated, and the appointment of inspectors is to be decided by higher authorities, the statement said.

The goal is to relieve anti-graft officials of concerns about intervention from peers at the same rank.

The top leadership also requested that the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection gradually station inspectors in the Party's top departments.

The new rules asked inspectors to intensify their checks on central departments and local governments, as well as on State-owned enterprises and institutions funded with public money