In the past two years, a secretive and large-scale purge of senior military leaders within the Chinese Communist Party has been initiated, resulting in the dismissal of at least 16 high-ranking military officials. Former Defense Minister Li Shangfu is among the highest-ranking military leaders to have been dismissed since 2017. The focus of the purge has primarily been on the Rocket Force and Equipment Department, but it has now extended to the Navy.
According to public official information, at least 5 officials were associated with the Rocket Force reorganized by Party leader Xi Jinping in 2015, along with at least 2 from the Equipment Department responsible for armed forces.
The latest development is the suspension of duty investigation announced on Thursday, November 28th for Admiral Miao Hua, a member of the Central Military Commission and Director of the Political Work Department of the Navy. On Wednesday, the UK’s Financial Times cited multiple current and former American officials familiar with the situation, reporting that Defense Minister and Admiral Dong Jun was also under investigation. Chinese officials have denied these claims.
Why is the Chinese Communist Party purging some of its highest military leaders? What is the relationship between Xi Jinping and the military? And what is the extent of corruption within the military?
Unlike the administrative branches of the Chinese Communist Party, corruption investigations within the military are not publicly disclosed, making it difficult for outsiders to determine the extent of the purges. However, the dismissal of officials announced by the authorities can provide some clues.
In June, the Party expelled Li Shangfu and another former Defense Minister, Wei Feng, on corruption charges. The authorities stated that both were suspected of bribery and corruption, severely tainting the political ecology within the military equipment sector.
The Defense Minister occupies an administrative position, primarily overseeing military diplomacy with other countries rather than directly commanding armed forces.
The Central Military Commission’s anti-corruption task force is responsible for conducting corruption investigations within the military and reporting to the Central Military Commission. Xi Jinping himself serves as the Chairman of the Central Military Commission. Apart from Xi, there are two Vice Chairmen overseeing military leadership roles on the Commission, with additional members in charge of political work and discipline.
According to analysis by the Asia Policy Research Institute, this small group forms the core of the Chinese Communist Party’s military operations and supervision.
The Central Military Commission holds authority over the management of the Chinese military, including strategic planning, auditing, and political education. This falls within the Party’s internal structure, directly commanding the armed forces.
The Chinese official statements regarding high-ranking officials’ investigations and accusations remain opaque, with only major allegations being disclosed at the conclusion of investigations, while specific details are withheld.
The charges against the two former Defense Ministers were all categorized as “serious violations of discipline and law,” a generic term used within the Party for corruption. However, Chinese political observers can infer the severity of the charges and specific guidance from subtle changes in official notifications.
To avoid leaking information that could damage their ruling or combat image, much of the information on internal military purges comes from foreign intelligence officers and Chinese civilians.
In early November, former Chinese Navy Colonel Yao Cheng and independent commentator Cai Shenkun revealed on social media that Miao Hua was taken away for investigation.
Cai Shenkun also suggested that a large number of senior officers promoted by Miao Hua, including Defense Minister Dong Jun, who took office at the end of last year, would also be affected, signaling a new round of extensive purges within the military.
The issue of corruption has raised doubts among outsiders regarding the combat effectiveness of the Chinese military and the efficiency of massive investments in purchasing weapons. Allegations include the dilution of missile warheads with water instead of fuel and malfunctioning missile silo covers in the western regions.
According to sources cited by Bloomberg, corruption is rampant within the Chinese Rocket Force as well as throughout the entire national defense industrial base, to the extent that American officials believe Xi Jinping is unlikely to consider any major military actions in the coming years.
Official evaluations from the United States have highlighted several corruption-related examples, such as watering down missile warheads and non-functional missile silo covers in large parts of the country.
During Xi’s first term as General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, he gained fame for his anti-corruption campaign, toppling many political opponents and handling thousands of Party officials.
However, even after more than a decade of Xi’s anti-corruption efforts, eradicating corruption at a systemic level remains a challenge, as kickbacks and open bribery for promotion have been common practices within the Chinese military for decades.
Lyle Morris, a researcher at the Asia Policy Research Institute, noted in a lengthy post on social media that the recent extensive personnel changes within the Chinese military leadership and Chinese state-owned enterprises involved in military procurement suggest deep-seated anxieties and disarray within the Chinese military, along with a lack of trust between Xi Jinping and the military.
“The corruption within the Chinese (Communist) military is not just a matter of ‘a few bad apples.’ In comparison to most other military organizations in the world, it is largely a part of the PLA (People’s Liberation Army) conducting ‘business,’ although the rule of law and checks can be used to expose significant acts of nepotism and corruption,” Morris wrote.
Assistant Professor Dylan Loh Ming Hui from Nanyang Technological University’s School of Public Policy and Global Affairs told Bloomberg that the investigation into Miao Hua implies deeper and more challenging systemic problems within the Chinese military.
“Even with the centralized power of Xi Jinping, he faces challenges in uprooting (cronyism). He said.”