China has suspended a senior military officer. miao huawho serves as the Director of the Department of Political Affairs Central Military Commission (CMC), the Defense Ministry announced on Thursday.
Miao is under investigation for “serious violations of party discipline and laws,” according to state news agency Xinhua, using a common euphemism for corruption cases.
It is overseen by the CMC headed by Chinese President Xi Jinping. People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and is the most powerful institution controlling China’s military. Miao is one of five members of the commission, making him one of the highest-ranking individuals in the Chinese defense establishment. His position in the Communist Party hierarchy is even higher than that of Defense Minister, highlighting the dominance of party roles in government positions in China.
The announcement comes after a Financial Times report accused the current Defense Minister of dong jun The investigation was ongoing and was suspended. However, the Defense Ministry has refuted these claims and dismissed the report as “sheer fabrications”.
This is the third major change in China’s defense leadership in recent months. In June, former Defense Minister Li Shangfu and his predecessor Wei Fenghe were expelled from the Communist Party and faced investigations into corruption and bribery.
Both officials have been removed from public view, with Lee being dismissed after only seven months of taking up the post.
If confirmed, Dong Jun would become the third consecutive Chinese defense minister to face a corruption investigation. Dong, a former navy commander, took over the post in December after the sudden removal of Li Shangfu.
China’s powerful rocket force, responsible for the country’s strategic missile arsenal, has also faced scrutiny. In July, Sun Jinming, a senior Rocket Force official, was placed under investigation for alleged corruption.
At a regular briefing on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning dismissed reports of Dong Jun’s investigation as “chasing shadows” but did not provide further details.