China has formally removed one of its most senior military officials, Miao Hua, from the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), according to a statement released Friday by the official Xinhua news agency. Miao, 69, had been under investigation since last November for "serious violations of discipline," a term often used in China to refer to corruption cases.
Former head of the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) political ideology, Miao Hua, had been suspended from his duties and removed from several government organizational charts in recent weeks. His photo had notably disappeared from the Ministry of Defense's website, a clear signal of his impending disgrace. Last month, the National People's Congress had already dismissed him for "serious violations of discipline and the law."
This exclusion marks a new phase in the president's vast anti-corruption campaign. Xi Jinping within the armed forces. In recent months, more than a dozen senior PLA officers and influential defense industry executives have been investigated or dismissed in what appears to be an unprecedented cleanup at the top of China's military establishment.
Miao Hua had risen through the ranks in Fujian Province, where Xi Jinping served as a local cadre in the 1990s. Their closeness led Xi to personally promote him to the CMC, the Chinese military's top commanding body. This personal connection, however, was not enough to shield Miao from the ongoing purge.
In a related statement, authorities also announced the removal of Vice Admiral Li Hanjun, chief of staff of the PLA Navy, from his position as parliamentary delegate. Meanwhile, General He Weidong, another influential CMC member, has not been seen in public since March 11, fueling speculation that he may be sidelined.
These developments reflect Xi Jinping's tightening of control over the military ahead of the 21st Congress of the Chinese Communist Party. They also illustrate the extent of internal tensions and power struggles within the ruling circles of the People's Republic.
