China targets ‘rats’ stealing military funds after launch of probe

China’s official military newspaper called for corrupt officials who misuse military funds to be punished, days after the announcement of a high-profile probe into the nation’s top generals roiled Beijing’s defence establishment.

- 

“Strike hard against corruption that undermines the building of fighting capability, thoroughly investigate and root out ‘fat rats’ that embezzle military funds,” a research centre of the National Defence University commanded readers on Jan 30 in the People’s Liberation Army Daily.

Priority should be given to cases where “political and commercial issues are intertwined”, according to the commentary, which called for discipline in key industries and areas of overlap between the military and local government.