China Dismisses Another Military Official Amid Corruption Investigation, Defense Minister Under Scrutiny

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun is currently under investigation, while Admiral Miao Hua, a senior member of the Central Military Commission, has been dismissed over allegations of serious disciplinary violations.

The investigations are tied to corruption within China’s Rocket Force, which has faced significant scrutiny recently.

According to two anonymous U.S. officials, the investigation into Dong Jun is part of an ongoing effort by China to tackle corruption at the highest levels of the military. While China’s Ministry of Defense has yet to confirm the details, if true, Dong Jun would be the third defense minister in the past year to be embroiled in such allegations.

Over the past year, the Chinese military has removed at least 20 senior officers and defense officials from their positions over corruption claims.

The Ministry of Defense also announced that Admiral Miao Hua was removed for “serious breaches of discipline.”

This wave of purges aligns with President Xi Jinping’s decade-long anti-corruption campaign, which he claims aims to root out graft and promote transparency. However, critics argue that these moves may be politically motivated, targeting rivals within the party and military ranks.