Over the past few years, a seismic purge has shaken the upper levels of China’s military leadership, including the president Xi Jinping Targeting senior officials for alleged corruption. The most recent casualty is the Admiral miao huaMember of the Central Military Commission (CMC) – China’s top military decision-making body.
running news
- It is the latest chapter in Xi’s relentless anti-corruption campaign, which now stretches to its core. People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
- Admiral Miao Hua, a senior member of China’s Central Military Commission (CMC), has been placed under investigation for “serious violations of discipline”, a euphemism for corruption.
- As head of the Political Work Department of the CMC, Miao was responsible for enforcing party discipline within the PLA. His relationship with Xi dates back to the 1990s when both served in Fujian province. Their investigation underlines the breadth of Xi’s anti-corruption campaign, with even people considered close allies being targeted.
- Miao’s suspension follows similar investigations of other high-ranking officials, including former defense ministers Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe.
- Many of the targeted officers had roles in China’s elite rocket force, which oversees the country’s nuclear arsenal.
- Meanwhile, the Defense Ministry rejected reports that the current Defense Minister, Admiral Dong JunInvestigation is also going on, such claims are being described as “sheer fabrications”. However, Dong’s absence from the CMC – a break from recent tradition – suggests that he too may be under scrutiny.
why it matters
- The purges highlight a sweeping anti-corruption crackdown under President Xi Jinping that has had a significant impact on the world’s largest military.
- Xi’s vision of a modern, “world-class” People’s Liberation Army (PLA) by 2050 depends on disciplined leadership and advanced military capabilities. Yet, allegations of systemic corruption threaten to undermine both readiness and internal cohesion.
- The scale of the crackdown indicates that corruption is not limited to a few “bad guys”, but runs deep within the military hierarchy. This raises questions about Xi’s ability to manage his sweeping anti-corruption campaign while maintaining loyalty and stability among China’s military elite.
big picture
- Xi’s campaign against corruption has long been a cornerstone of his rule, targeting officials at all levels of government. Since 2012, the effort has removed millions of officials. However, the current purge focuses on the PLA, an institution crucial to Xi’s domestic and international ambitions.
- Strategic Implications: The PLA’s rocket force is central to China’s nuclear deterrence strategy and any potential plans for Taiwan. Corruption within this unit, such as the purchase of substandard missiles, casts doubt on the reliability of China’s military assets.
- Problems of Rocket Force: The rocket force, expanded under Xi’s military reforms in 2015, has been particularly impacted. The allegations include substandard equipment and procurement scams. Several top commanders, including Li Yuchao and Liu Guangbin, have been removed, and US intelligence reports suggest operational weaknesses such as non-functional missile silos and improperly fueled missiles.
- Comprehensive Purification: Since mid-2023, more than a dozen senior military and aerospace figures have been removed. This includes high-ranking officials involved in equipment procurement, further highlighting the impact of corruption on China’s military modernization.
- Internal instability: Unlike previous campaigns that targeted rival factions, the current purge affects Xi’s own appointees, including officials seen as loyalists. This has led to growing nervousness and speculation of a possible rift in Xi’s inner circle.
between the lines
- The PLA’s corruption issues are more than financial ruin – they threaten the effectiveness of China’s armed forces at a time of rising geopolitical tensions. Xi’s ambitions to integrate the PLA with rival global military powers depend on overcoming these internal challenges.
- Critics argue that Xi’s centralized power exacerbates these issues, as the lack of institutional checks and balances increases corruption. Furthermore, the ambiguity of China’s political and military systems makes it difficult to assess the full extent of these problems or their impact on strategic capabilities.
- Xi’s purge is reshaping the balance of power within the PLA and the broader Communist Party. Miao’s removal also highlights the danger of senior loyalists getting in the way of Xi’s campaign to consolidate power. Their investigation also highlights the fragility of personal alliances in a political system where loyalty to Xi is the ultimate currency.
what are they saying
“Corruption in China’s military is not a matter of ‘a few bad guys,'” said Lael Morris, national security fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute. “This is much more a part of ‘doing business’ in the PLA than in most other military organizations around the world.”
Xi himself has acknowledged “deep problems” within the PLA, and described the current political environment as “complex and complicated”. At a recent military conference, he stressed the need to root out corruption, saying, “There should be no place to hide for corrupt elements in the army.”
“Since the beginning of his reign in 2012, Xi Jinping’s endless purges have removed millions of officials – from top-ranking Communist Party “tigers” to lowly bureaucratic “flies”, to use Xi’s evocative terminology. For,” said an article in Politico titled “China’s Xi goes ‘full Stalin’ with purge.”
bet
- Domestic pressure: Xi’s actions match broader challenges in China, including economic stability, youth unemployment and growing discontent among the middle class. A weak or unstable PLA could undermine Xi’s authority at a time when he faces increasing domestic scrutiny.
- Taiwan and regional security: PLA preparedness for any potential action in Taiwan or other disputed areas is critical. Corruption-related inefficiencies could delay or complicate Xi’s ambitions, especially as the US and its allies strengthen their presence in the Indo-Pacific region.
- Global Perception: The wipeout also raises questions about China’s military credibility. For a country seeking to establish itself as a global superpower, reports of corruption and operational failures undermine its credibility on the world stage.
what will happen next
Xi, China’s “president for life”, is likely to intensify his anti-corruption campaign, focusing on tightening internal discipline within the PLA and improving transparency. Recent steps, such as amendments to audit rules and reforms in procurement systems, suggest an effort to address systemic issues.
However, analysts warn that these measures may only scratch the surface. The lack of independent oversight and concentration of power under Xi means corruption could persist, undermining the reforms he wants to implement.
(with inputs from agencies)