China plans to audit more than 4,000 military officers for the efficient use of its military expenses in the next five years, a senior military officer said last Thursday.

Among the 4,000-plus military officers, more than 100 will be army commanders or above, said Liao Xilong, member of the Central Military Commission and director of the General Logistics Department of the People's Liberation Army.

"We will make it our priority to audit those taking charge of military expenses, officers whom people complain about, those likely to be promoted and those planning to retire," he said.

"The audit results will be applied to the evaluation of the military officers," Liao added.

Meanwhile, China will strengthen its audit of projects relating to armaments and military expenditure aiming at scientific management of the army and the anti-corruption and Party building drive, Liao stressed.

In the 10th Five-Year Plan period (2001-2005), China audited 77,000 military institutions and projects and 7,890 military officers, recovering some 6.8 billion yuan (US$850 million) of misused funds.

(Xinhua News Agency January 30, 2006)