'Purify social circle' or meet fate of missing leaders, PLA's warning to Chinese troops

China is asking its soldiers to be cautious of whom they choose to mingle with, warning them of the same fate some leaders met for wrong socialising. Urging the cadre to “purify their social circle”, a commentary in the state-run PLA Daily advised them to even “physically isolate” themselves if need be. “The most effective way to stay away from dangers and temptations is to conduct ‘physical isolation’,” the Daily said. “If events or meal appointments aren’t necessary, they should be avoided,” the statement urged the soldiers. The advisory comes after some Chinese leaders were removed for allegedly having extramarital affairs, or indulgence in corruption. In June, President Xi Jinping sacked foreign minister Qin Gang, just seven months after his appointment, making his tenure the shortest in the post thus far. He reportedly indulged in an affair while he represented China in Washington. Defence Minister Li Shangfu has been missing from the public view since late August. While China hasn’t officially confirmed his removal from the post, US intelligence suggests that he has been sacked as well. His alleged removal came at a time when the Chinese military started probing corruption cases pertaining to procurement going more than five years back — almost coinciding with the time Li was the head of the equipment department. A few months before Li’s went out of public spectacle, generals from the command that manages China’s nuclear arsenal.