Want China Times
October 26, 2014
Yang Jinshan, former deputy commander of the People’s Liberation Army’s Chengdu Military Area Command, reportedly has a strong connection with Bo Yibo, father of disgraced former Chongqing Communist Party chief Bo Xilai, reports our Chinese-language sister paper Want Daily.
The official’s party membership was revoked during the 18th CPC Central Committee’s fourth plenary session held on Oct. 23 this year, during which a report of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection on his “serious disciplinary violations” was reviewed and approved, according to state-run Xinhua News Agency.
His downfall was said the most unexpected incident of the session, which was expected to announce the penalties and investigation results on former oil and security tsar Zhou Yongkang. Yang is the official with highest military ranking sacked for corruption since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China held in Nov. 2012.
Hong Kong newspaper Ta Kung Po said Yang’s dismissal was revealed earlier than other sacked members of the central committee. It is also the fist time the Chinese communist party dismissed a member who was serving in the military during the session.
The WeChat account of People’s Daily Overseas Edition confirmed that Yang’s downfall was unexpected. He worked for the 14th Field Army Bo Yibo had established for years and was a commanding officer for the Tibet Military Region.
Yang kept out of the limelight despite his high ranking. He was promoted to chief of staff of the field army in 2001, according to the Hong Kong-based Wenweipo. The army group has one of the longest histories among China’s military units. It was established in 1985 by Bo as an anti-Japanese force and stationed in Kunming, Yunnan province.
In May last year while Yang inspecting a military drill he said that army troops who have no courage and an upright nature cannot win a battle. Basic training is the best way to develop such qualities in a soldier.
He was last mentioned in a media report in July this year when he accompanied Chang Wanquan, China’s defense minister, to visit Tanzania and South Africa. A few days after visit, Hong Kong media reported that Yang was arrested for corruption but the report did not catch much attention.
