General Xu Caihou--on his way from the Statesmen's Forum to the PLA Military Court

General Xu Caihou (seen here in a 2009 photo taken when he spoke at the Statesmen's Forum of the Center for Strategic & International Studies in Washington) is the former vice-chairman of China's Central Military Commission. He was expelled from the Communist Party in a Politburo meeting (of which he was formerly a member) on 30 June. The meeting was presided over by General Secretary Xi Jinping, and heard a report from the Central Military Commission's Disciplinary Commission (the PLA's Communist Party disciplinary organization) summarizing the results of its investigation of General Xu.  He is the highest ranking PLA officer to fall in the current anti-corruption drive.

General Xu's case has been transferred to the PLA Military Procuratorate (on the authorization of the Supreme People's Procuratorate).  It is likely that General Xu will be tried in the PLA Military Court.  As discussed in an earlier blogpost, the trial would not be open to the public.  

General Xu, was reportedly taken from his bed at the 301st Military Hospital (the PLA's most elite) in March to face investigators.

The Chinese press releases stated that he had abused his power and received bribes “personally and through his family members” in exchange for granting promotions in the military. General Gu Junshan, who was tried earlier this spring by the PLA Military Court, was a protégée of General Xu. Analysis of the political implications can be found here.