On March 2, 2015 (January 12, 2015 in the lunar calendar), Huang Xing, former director of the Scientific Research Guidance Department of the Academy of Military Sciences, was investigated for the rank of Major General. Huang Xing is a 1966 alumnus of the High School Affiliated to Northwest Normal University. He is currently the Director of the Scientific Research Guidance Department and Secretary of the Party Committee of the Academy of Military Sciences of the People's Liberation Army of China, a member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of the Academy of Military Sciences, a military official, and a major general. Three independent sources familiar with the case told this newspaper that a senior PLA strategist was under investigation on suspicion of leaking state secrets, helping local rebels in Myanmar fight against the Burmese government forces, and fraud. Huang Xing is the former director of the Scientific Research Guidance Department of China Academy of Military Sciences. Earlier this year, he was investigated for serious violations of discipline. On Monday, the People's Liberation Army Daily announced that a batch of 14 officers at or above the military level had been investigated for violating laws and disciplines, including Huang Xing. The announcement showed that he had been detained for investigation in the past two months for involvement in corruption. A source close to China's Academy of Military Sciences said that Huang Xing mainly violated military discipline and was suspected of leaking state secrets to the Kokang rebels when rebels in the Kokang region of northeastern Myanmar fought against the Burmese government forces in 2009. The main rebel force in the Kokang region is the Kokang Allied Army, most of which are Han Chinese. Communist organizations have been formed in the region in the past. An Academy of Military Sciences source said: "He (Huang Xing) was recently arrested and charged with fraud." Another source who claimed to be a friend of Huang Xing revealed to this newspaper that Huang Xing was charged with defrauding 1 million yuan. The details of the Huang Xing case are still unclear, but the friend believes that the charges are just an excuse to bring Huang Xing down. The friend said: "One million should not be enough to pull down a major general." Other generals facing corruption charges have embezzled more money than this. "Huang Xing's family has handed over one million, but authorities are still charging him." I suspect someone was just waiting for an opportunity to bring him down." The People's Liberation Army Daily reported that Huang Xing was investigated by the Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Military Commission in January this year and was suspected of serious violations of discipline. The announcement stated that Huang Xing's case had been transferred to the military judicial authorities, but did not specify Huang Xing's relationship with the Kokang rebels. The People's Liberation Army strictly prohibits officers from communicating with any foreign military personnel without permission. In February, Myanmar's military security chief pointed out that during their recent confrontation with government forces, the Kokang rebels had received training and advice from retired China officers and soldiers. He also hinted that the rebels had support from China. Both China's Foreign Ministry and Kokang rebel leaders denied this. "I was surprised to see Huang Xing on the list of 14 generals being investigated," said Professor Ding Shufan, a PLA expert at the Association for Advanced Policy Studies in Taiwan. "Huang Xing is quite famous for his research on military strategy. As a military scholar, I don't think he will be involved in corruption because he doesn't have much opportunity to take bribes." Two retired senior colonel said that Huang Xing was investigated for multiple reasons. They said Huang Xing's involvement in the Kokang rebels was a "political mistake" that embarrassed the People's Liberation Army. One of the senior colonel said: "It was not mentioned (in the announcement of the People's Liberation Army Daily), which shows that the top management may feel embarrassed. They instead chose a more convenient crime to punish him. ¡±