China disputed rumors that Defense Minister Dong Jun was being investigated for corruption on Thursday, stating that a senior military officer had been suspended and was being investigated for major discipline violations.
According to his official biography, the suspended officer, Admiral Miao Hua, was stationed in the coastal province of Fujian when President Xi Jinping was employed there as a local official. He was a member of the ruling Central Military Commission, which is China’s highest-level military authority.
Miao, the top political officer in the military, started his career in the army.
Wu Qian, a spokesman for the military ministry, gave reporters no additional information during a monthly press briefing in Beijing.
Since last year, the Chinese military has been undergoing a massive anti-corruption purge, and at least nine generals from the People’s Liberation Army and a few executives from the defense sector have been kicked out of the country’s legislature.
Wu claimed that media stories claiming Dong had been sidelined due to an investigation were untrue lies propagated by malicious rumor-mongers.
Citing current and former U.S. officials, the Financial Times said this week that Dong was under investigation as part of the extensive anti-corruption probe.
According to two U.S. officials who spoke to Reuters, Dong is being looked into for possible wrongdoing. Another cautioned against drawing such conclusion.
The Pentagon chief said Wednesday that Dong’s decision to withdraw to meet with U.S. military Secretary Lloyd Austin during a military ministers’ conference in Laos last week was regrettable, citing U.S. activities over Taiwan.
Wu mentioned Dong specifically when he was questioned about the choice to skip Austin’s meeting, stating that the US has been gravely threatening regional peace and stability.
In December 2023, Dong was named defense minister, succeeding Li Shangfu, who was dismissed after seven months.
In June, Li and his predecessor, Wei Fenghe, were purged from the Communist Party for grave misconduct, which is another word for corruption.
According to the most recent Pentagon study on China’s military, which was released in October 2023, Miao might have been acquainted with Xi during his tenure in Fujian.
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