Zhou Guotai: 'Father of China's Bulletproof Vest' Under Investigation for Corruption

Oct 21, 2015 06:36 AM EDT

China People's Liberation Army Anti-Corruption

(Photo : REUTERS/cnsphoto ) Soldiers of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China march in formation past the Tiananmen Gate and the giant portrait of Chinese late chairman Mao Zedong (C) as they gather ahead of a military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two, in Beijing. A top officer in the PLA's logistics department has been found guilty of corruption less than two months after another high ranking officer from the same section was sentenced.

A high ranking official in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) logistics department has been put under investigation, the military announced on Wednesday.

According to China Military Online, Zhou Guotai, a major general and ex-deputy head of the PLA's oil and material supplies department, has been probed for "suspicion of serious disciplinary violations." This term is often used by China's anti-corruption watchdog as a euphemism for corruption.

Like Us on Facebook

Zhou is the latest high ranking officer in the PLA to be investigation for disciplinary violations. Earlier in the year, China named about 15 generals and other top officials who were being investigated for corruption. President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign has seen some of the most powerful Chinese generals disgraced, including the late Xu Caihou and Guo Boxiong.

Several critics have voiced suspicion that the PLA's logistics department is likely to be riddled with corrupt officers due to the large amount of money and contracts that it handles. In August, the former deputy head of the PLA's General Logistics department, Gu Junshan, was handed a suspended death sentenced after he was found guilty of bribery, embezzlement and misuse of public funds.

The details of the crimes that Zhou is accused of committing have not been made public. However, the case has reportedly been handed over to military prosecutors.

The PLA, which boasts of about 2.3 million soldiers, has not been to war in over three decades. China has increased its annual military budget by double figures over the past few years as the country looks to upgrade its forces. But experts have warned that corruption in the military could compromise these efforts and ultimately affect the battle-readiness of the army.

With China increasingly flexing its muscles with the U.S. over territorial disputes in the East China Sea and South China Sea, pundits say it is highly important that the military is battle ready.

TagsZhou Guotai, People's Liberation Army (PLA), Xu Caihou, Guo Boxiong, Gu Junshan