China warns troops to ignore the Internet and prepare for ideological struggle

Chinese President Hu Jintao

China’s military leaders have told the country’s troops to ignore rumours on the Internet about a coup in Beijing.
Soldiers were told to steel themselves for an 'ideological struggle' as the ruling Communist Party faces a leadership transition by the military’s newspaper, the Liberation Army Daily.               
A front-page commentary in the newspaper left no doubt the party leadership wants to inoculate People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops against rumours that could corrode the authority of President Hu Jintao.   

The paper admonished soldiers to 'resolutely resist the incursion of all kinds of erroneous ideas, not be disturbed by noise, not be affected by rumours, and not be drawn by undercurrents, and ensure that at all times and under all circumstances the military absolutely obeys the command of the Party central leadership, the Central Military Commission and Chairman Hu.'    
Although the coup rumours were unfounded, their spread and the government’s tightening of Internet controls and warnings to ignore such talk have raised jitters about stability in the superpower.
In addition, the military has been shaken by a separate corruption scandal in the run-up to the party leadership change.
In late March, authorities shut 16 Chinese websites and detained six people accused of spreading rumours about unusual military movements and security in the capital, feeding talk of an attempted coup or schism in the leadership.       

China's military leaders have told troops to ignore internet rumours about a coup in Beijing 

The rumours fed on speculation about the ousting of Bo Xilai, who in mid-March was removed as party boss of Chongqing city in southwest China, over a month after his vice mayor, Wang Lijun, fled to a U.S. consulate, triggering a scandal exposing accusations of infighting and abuses of power.    
Charismatic Bo had wrapped himself in populist rhetoric and egalitarian vows, and his removal has stirred open opposition from leftist supporters who see him as the victim of a plot.                
Despite Bo’s fall, the party’s leadership transition appears on track, with Vice President Xi Jinping’s rising profile leaving little doubt that he will succeed Hu.