Party and military setting up local offices to monitor and protect soldiers
After two senior military leaders are arrested, central authorities set up special agencies to monitor military rights. Heads of political and law commissions at county, city and provincial levels will lead the groups.

Beijing (AsiaNews) - The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) are setting up offices at the local level to improve monitoring of illegal activities involving soldiers and address any grievances that may affect the military, this according to a joint document recently issued by the CCP's Central Political and Law Commission and the PLA's General Political Department.

In China, the defence establishment is one of the government's key institution. The campaign to "clean it up" has recently landed two senior military leaders in jail.

Xi Jinping, who is Chinese President and General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, is also chairman of the party's Central Military Commission.

"All departments should attach importance to the work of protecting military rights, especially those that have a major influence on state security and social stability," the document said.

In view of this, government authorities should crack down on military-related crimes, such as stealing and selling PLA secrets, and theft or destruction of equipment or facilities, it read.

To this effect, all provinces and municipalities are called to establish leading groups and standing offices at the county, city and provincial levels. Heads of the local political and law commissions will lead such groups and offices.

Beijing will also set up a mechanism to co-ordinate national issues relating to military rights protection.