China: Military official kills himself amid corruption probe
November 28, 2017
A former member of China's Central Military Commission has committed suicide after authorities opened a corruption probe against him. Zhang Yang was being investigated over his ties to two corruption-tainted generals.
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A top Chinese military official under investigation for corruption has committed suicide, the Defense Ministry and state media said on Tuesday.
Zhang Yang (pictured above), a former member of the powerful Central Military Commission, was "suspected of giving and taking bribes" and the origin of a large amount of his assets was unclear, the official Xinhua news agency reported, citing the commission.
"On the afternoon of November 23, Zhang Yang committed suicide at home," the Xinhua report stated.
The probe against Zhang, who was the director of the military's Political Work Department, focused on his suspected links to two corruption-tainted former generals.
Both serving and retired officers have said that corruption in the armed forces is so pervasive that it could affect China's ability to wage war.
However, some are skeptical of Xi's campaign to restructure the military, with critics saying the process has allowed the president to remove potential opponents and place allies in leading positions.
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