What's happened
Admiral Miao Hua, a senior official in China's military, is under investigation for serious violations of discipline, likely linked to corruption. This follows a series of high-profile purges in the People's Liberation Army, raising concerns about ongoing graft within the military despite Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Japan Times, Admiral Miao Hua is under investigation for 'serious violations of discipline,' a term often associated with corruption. Business Insider UK elaborates that Miao's suspension is significant due to his role in the Central Military Commission, which oversees the PLA. The New York Times emphasizes that this case is more serious than previous investigations into defense ministers, as Miao's position directly influences military morale and discipline. The Independent notes that this investigation is part of a broader trend of purges within the military, reflecting Xi Jinping's ongoing anti-corruption campaign, which has seen multiple high-ranking officials implicated in graft.
How we got here
The investigation into Admiral Miao Hua is part of a broader anti-corruption campaign initiated by Xi Jinping since he took power in 2012. This campaign has led to the ousting of numerous military officials, including recent probes into former Defense Ministers Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe.
More on these topics
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The People's Liberation Army is the armed forces of the People's Republic of China and its founding and ruling political party, the Chinese Communist Party.
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Li Shangfu is a Chinese aerospace engineer and general of the People's Liberation Army. Li is currently a State Councilor of the People's Republic of China and the Minister of National Defence since March 2023.
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Xi Jinping is a Chinese politician serving as the general secretary of the Communist Party of China, president of the People's Republic of China, and chairman of the Central Military Commission.
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Wei Fenghe is a general in the Chinese People's Liberation Army who served as Commander of the PLA Rocket Force, formerly known as the Second Artillery Corps.
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Miao Hua is an admiral of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy. He has served as director of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission since October 2017.
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Dong Jun is a Chinese admiral of the People's Liberation Army Navy who has served as the 14th Minister of National Defense since December 2023.
He served as the Commander of the People's Liberation Army Navy from September 2021 to December 2023.
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China, officially the People's Republic of China, is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population of around 1.4 billion in 2019.