A senior Chinese military official, Admiral Miao Hua, has been removed from office for “serious violations of discipline,” the Chinese Ministry of Defence announced on Thursday. The announcement marks the latest high-profile case in Beijing’s sweeping anti-corruption campaign within the armed forces.
Miao, a prominent member of the Central Military Commission (CMC), has been suspended pending investigation, according to defence ministry spokesperson Wu Qian. The CMC, the country’s most powerful military body, includes President Xi Jinping at its helm.
The nature of the allegations against Miao remains undisclosed, but the term “serious violations of discipline” is widely interpreted as a euphemism for corruption. His removal underscores the challenges President Xi faces in eliminating graft and maintaining discipline within China’s military ranks.
Admiral Miao Hua, who led the CMC’s Political Work Department, was considered one of the most influential figures in China’s military hierarchy. The department plays a crucial role in aligning the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) with the ideological directives of the Communist Party.
Lyle Morris, a senior fellow at the Asia Society, described Miao as a “close ally” of Xi and an important liaison between the military and the party. His removal signals a potential shake-up in the upper echelons of China’s armed forces, an institution that Xi has vowed to purge of corruption to bolster its operational integrity and combat readiness.
The removal of Miao Hua is part of President Xi’s intensified efforts to root out corruption within the military, a campaign he launched shortly after taking office in 2012. This drive has seen numerous high-ranking military officials dismissed, investigated, or prosecuted for graft.
Xi’s anti-corruption campaign has two principal goals: ensuring loyalty to the Communist Party and enhancing the PLA’s combat effectiveness. In a speech earlier this month, Xi called for an intensified crackdown on corruption in the military and emphasized the need for greater “war-preparedness.”
Experts suggest that the persistence of such cases reveals both the deep entrenchment of corruption in the PLA and Xi’s resolve to address it. Dylan Loh, an assistant professor at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, highlighted the administration’s willingness to publicly disclose high-profile probes despite the potential reputational damage.
“I think the fact that these probes are still done, and done fairly openly and publicly, despite the obvious reputational hits, shows the resolve of Xi to really address and try to root it out,” Loh said.
Observers argue that corruption within the PLA is not merely a domestic governance issue but one with significant implications for China’s military capabilities. A report by Bloomberg earlier this year suggested that concerns over graft in the armed forces have heightened fears about the PLA’s ability to wage a future war effectively.
By addressing corruption, Xi aims to ensure that funds allocated for military modernization are used efficiently and that commanders prioritize strategic readiness over personal enrichment. The PLA’s modernization efforts are pivotal to China’s ambitions of becoming a dominant global power, especially in the context of escalating tensions with the United States over Taiwan and the South China Sea.
Miao Hua’s suspension is part of a broader pattern of disciplinary actions against senior military officials. Over the past year, several key figures have been removed from office for alleged corruption.
The Ministry of Defence has seen significant turnover recently, with two defence ministers dismissed within a year.
Li Shangfu: Appointed in March, Li was expelled from the Communist Party in October for suspected bribery and other offenses. He has not appeared in public since his removal.
Wei Fenghe: Li’s predecessor was similarly expelled from the party and handed over to prosecutors for alleged corruption.
China’s Rocket Force, which manages its strategic missile arsenal, has faced particularly intense investigations. In July, Sun Jinming, a top official in the Rocket Force, was expelled from the party and placed under investigation. Two other senior officers associated with the unit have also been removed for graft.
The Rocket Force plays a critical role in China’s military strategy, especially amid growing concerns over nuclear deterrence and regional conflicts. The scrutiny of its leadership reflects the high stakes of maintaining discipline and operational efficiency within this elite unit.
At the same press briefing where Miao Hua’s suspension was announced, the Ministry of Defence addressed speculation about another senior official, Defence Minister Dong Jun.
Wu Qian categorically denied reports that Dong was under investigation for corruption, calling them “pure fabrications” and accusing those spreading the rumors of acting with ill intent.
“The rumour-mongers are ill-intentioned. China expresses its strong dissatisfaction with such slanderous behaviour,” Wu said.
Dong, a former navy commander, was appointed as defence minister in December following Li Shangfu’s removal. The swift changes in leadership have fueled speculation about the extent of corruption within China’s defence establishment.
The series of dismissals and investigations highlights enduring governance challenges within the PLA. Despite a decade-long anti-corruption campaign, the persistence of graft underscores structural issues in an institution historically plagued by patronage networks and opaque practices.
Experts warn that the PLA’s modernization goals may be undermined unless systemic reforms address these deeper issues.
The anti-corruption campaign also serves as a political tool for Xi Jinping to consolidate power within the military. By targeting senior officials, Xi ensures that the PLA remains firmly under the control of the Communist Party, with loyalty to him personally.
