Beijing, CNN — China has suspended a senior military official and placed him under investigation for alleged corruption, the country’s Ministry of Defense confirmed, signaling that President Xi Jinping’s extensive purge within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is widening.
Admiral Miao Hua, a member of the influential Central Military Commission (CMC), which is led by Xi, is under investigation for “serious violations of discipline,” a term often used to indicate corruption, according to Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian, who spoke at a press briefing Thursday.
Miao, 69, heads the CMC's Political Work Department, a key position overseeing political and ideological work within the military. He is regarded as one of Xi’s close allies, having worked in Fujian province during the 1990s and early 2000s when Xi was a senior official there. The two have maintained a longstanding professional relationship.
Miao’s suspension follows a report by the Financial Times, which claimed that China’s Defense Minister, General Li Shangfu, was also under investigation for corruption, citing both current and former U.S. officials. However, the Chinese Defense Ministry quickly denied the report, dismissing it as "sheer fabrication." Wu Qian strongly rebuffed the allegations, accusing "rumor mongers" of malicious intent and expressing China's "strong dissatisfaction" with the claims.
This investigation into Miao is the latest in a series of high-profile purges of top PLA officials. Xi has launched an ongoing crackdown on corruption within the military, particularly targeting the Rocket Force, a highly influential division responsible for overseeing China’s missile programs, both nuclear and conventional.
In recent months, the purge has led to the downfall of several senior military leaders, including former Defense Minister Li Shangfu and his predecessor, Wei Fenghe. Both were expelled from the Communist Party in June on charges of corruption. The widening purge highlights Xi’s determination to root out corruption and ensure loyalty within the ranks of the military, as well as his efforts to consolidate control over the armed forces.
The turmoil within the PLA comes as Xi seeks to modernize and strengthen China’s military forces, making them more agile, combat-ready, and assertive in regional disputes, particularly over territorial claims in the South China Sea and Taiwan. As part of his vision to transform the PLA into a “world-class” military, China has been pouring billions of dollars into upgrading equipment and modernizing its capabilities.
Since last summer, more than a dozen senior officers from the PLA, including high-ranking figures within the military-industrial complex, have been removed from their posts. Many of those purged have been associated with the Rocket Force or China’s military procurement system, including the aforementioned former defense ministers, Li and Wei.
Li’s removal from the public eye was swift and mysterious—he vanished from view shortly after taking office in 2023. He was removed as defense minister in October, just months into his tenure, amid a significant reshuffle within the Rocket Force. Li was replaced by Admiral Dong Jun, a senior officer with close ties to Miao Hua, the latest official to be investigated. Dong, also an admiral, had served as the commander of the PLA Navy and was seen as a political ally of Miao, particularly during their overlapping time in the military’s political departments.
Miao’s career in the PLA has been marked by steady advancement within the political arm of the military. He was appointed political commissar of the PLA Navy in 2014, when Admiral Dong served as the deputy chief of staff of the Navy. Miao later rose to the position of Director of the Political Work Department of the CMC in 2017, a crucial role in shaping the military’s ideological direction.
Xi’s crackdown on corruption within the military is part of a broader campaign that he has made a hallmark of his presidency since coming to power in 2012. While this anti-corruption drive has purged countless officials from various sectors of the Chinese government, the focus on the PLA has been particularly pronounced. The ongoing investigation of senior military officials, including Miao, underscores that Xi’s campaign against corruption within the military is far from over. It also suggests that, despite the high-profile nature of these purges, Xi remains determined to rid the military of any potential threats to his authority and ensure loyalty to his leadership.
The purge of high-ranking military officials and the disruption in the upper echelons of the PLA have raised questions about the stability and cohesion of China’s armed forces at a time when Xi is pushing for a more assertive military posture on the global stage. As Xi works to expand China's military influence, the leadership vacuum created by the ongoing investigations and expulsions could have implications for the PLA's effectiveness and readiness.
The suspension of Admiral Miao Hua and the broader crackdown on the PLA is also a reminder of the immense political and personal stakes involved in Xi’s leadership. While the president has positioned himself as a unifying figure within China, his efforts to consolidate power have prompted both internal and external scrutiny, particularly regarding the balance of power within the military and the potential consequences for national security.
With more investigations likely in the coming months, the situation within China’s military leadership remains fluid, and the long-term effects of Xi's purge on the PLA will unfold in the years ahead.
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