Four Chinese generals failed to attend a recent high-profile military promotion ceremony, fueling speculation of a widening anti-corruption crackdown within China’s armed forces, according to a report by Hong Kong’s Sing Tao Daily.
The Central Military Commission (CMC), China’s top military authority, held a ceremony in Beijing on Monday to promote Chen Hui as a general and the new army political commissar. President Xi Jinping, who also serves as the CMC chairman, presided over the event.
However, among the approximately 30 active-duty generals expected to attend, four were conspicuously absent: Ground Force Commander Li Qiaoming, PLA Naval Commissar Yuan Huazhi, Armed Police Force Commander Wang Chunning, and Qin Shutong, the general whom Chen replaced. All four are members of the Communist Party’s Central Committee, which consists of the nation’s top 200 officials.
The absences follow earlier instances of missed appearances by some of these generals. Yuan and Qin reportedly skipped a military leadership meeting in late October, while Wang was absent from a national public security video conference on Nov. 21.
Their nonattendance has raised questions about whether the generals are under investigation as part of President Xi’s intensified anti-corruption campaign targeting the military. The campaign has already led to the expulsion of former defense ministers Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe in June on bribery charges.
Last month, CMC member Miao Hua was suspended and placed under investigation for “serious violations of discipline,” a term typically linked to corruption. With Miao’s removal, the CMC, which traditionally has seven seats, is now operating with only five members. The vacancies are notable, given the body’s critical role in China’s military leadership.
President Xi has emphasized the importance of eradicating corruption to advance his vision of building a “world-class military.” Speaking during an inspection of a PLA garrison in Macao last week, Xi underscored the need to “strengthen military discipline and maintain high levels of unity, security, and stability in the armed forces.”
The U.S. Department of Defense’s recent report on China’s military capabilities also pointed to pervasive bribery and corruption within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), noting these issues may be hindering the country’s military modernization. In response, China’s Defense Ministry dismissed the report, calling it an unwarranted interference in China’s internal affairs.
“The report flagrantly interferes in China’s domestic matters,” Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said, reiterating Beijing’s opposition to the Pentagon’s assessment.
Xi’s anti-corruption drive, marked by a string of high-profile investigations and disciplinary actions, is seen as both a move to modernize the military and a bid to consolidate his control over China’s armed forces.
25th Dec 2024
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