Chinese military authorities pledged Sunday to tighten supervision on senior and middle ranking officers, through strict punishment in cases of breach of duty and regular inspection of their work.

The military will adopt a strict system to investigate and punish senior officers for breaching duty or making mistakes, said a circular issued by the Central Military Commission (CMC) on Sunday.

The document, approved by CMC Chairman Hu Jintao, said it will also introduce a system of accountability by regular inspection on the work of officers at army corps level.

Military units higher than regiment level of the People's Liberation Army must review the work of their commanding officers at least once a year, it added.

Commanding officers from regiment to army corps levels are usually regarded as middle and senior ranking PLA officers.

It will tighten inspection on senior officers to see whether they strictly follow the military disciplines and show loyalty to the Communist Party of China.

The circular called on the officers to keep a communist nature. "In the face of a complicated ideological situation, senior military officers must stick to their faith and keep a firm political stance," it said.

They should devote themselves to building up the country's military capacity to win local wars in the information age, it said.

The document said that the supervision and inspection will focus on any examples of extravagance and waste by military officers.

(Xinhua News Agency May 18, 2009)