Beijing: China's military must learn from the glorious, uncorrupt example of its revolutionary forebears and thoroughly banish the deep-rooted, pernicious influence of the army's worst corruption scandal in decades, President Xi Jinping has told officers.

Mr Xi, who heads the military, has made weeding out corruption in the armed forces a top goal. Several senior officers have been felled, including one of China's most senior former military officers, Xu Caihou, who subsequently died of cancer in March.

Military delegates arrive for the opening of the annual full session of the National People's Congress at Tiananmen Square in Beijing in March. Credit:Reuters

Meeting soldiers in the north-eastern city of Changchun, Mr Xi said there can be no ambiguity when it comes to fighting graft.