China examines rank -high military officers as part of XI's cleansing

China examines rank -high military officers as part of XI's cleansing

Investigations against Admiral Miao Hua

Admiral Miao Hua, a member of the influential central military commission (ZMK), which is headed by XI Jinping, is examined on the basis of "severe disciplinary violations" - an euphemism for corruption, as the spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, Wu Qian, explained.

Miao Hua: friend and ally of XI Jinping

Miao, 69 years old, heads the Department of Political Work by the ZMK. He is considered a close ally of XI, since he served in the army of the coastal province of Fujian in the 1990s and early 2000s, while XI was a governor there.

escalation of the investigation

The news of Miaos suspension and examination only follows one day after the Financial Times had reported that China's Defense Minister Dong Jun was under investigation for corruption. This information comes from current and former US officials.

Correction of the Ministry of Defense

The spokesman for the Ministry of Defense pointed out that Dong was not being examined and described the report as "pure fake".

Combating corruption within the Pla

President XI has started a comprehensive offensive against corruption in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) since last year. The Rocket Force, an elite group that is responsible for the nuclear and conventional rockets of the country, is particularly the focus of these efforts.

consequences of the cleansing actions

These cleaning campaigns already led to the fall of several high -ranking generals, including former Defense Minister Li Shangfu and his predecessor Wei Fenghe.

willingness to fight and military aggressiveness

The continuing turbulence in the upper ranks of the military are at a time when XI aims to make the armed forces more strongly, more struggling and more aggressive in enforcing their controversial territorial demands in the region.