China’s Communist Party expels two former defense ministers over corruption charges

Asia-Pacific, News June 28, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

China’s Communist Party has expelled two former defense ministers, Li Shangfu and his predecessor, Wei Fenghe, amidst allegations of corruption. The decision, announced by the state-run news agency, underscores President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign within the military and the broader governmental framework.

According to China’s state-owned media outlet, Xinhua News, both former officials were accused of committing “serious violations of discipline,” a common euphemism for corruption within the Chinese political context. The detailed accusations against Li Shangfu, who was defense minister until his removal last October, include betraying his mission and the trust of the Party Central Committee and the Central Military Commission.

“As a senior party and military leader, Li Shangfu betrayed his original mission and lost the principles of party spirit,” the report said, adding that his actions “betrayed the trust and responsibility placed in him” by the top leadership of the party and the military.

His actions also “severely tainted the political and industry environment of the military equipment sector, caused significant damage to the party’s cause, the development of national defense and the military, and the image of senior leadership,” the state media said.

“The nature of his misconduct is extremely serious, the impact is exceedingly harmful, and the consequences are particularly severe.”

*^{China’s former Defence Minister Li Shangfu speaks at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on June 4, 2023. (Image Credit: Mark Cheong/The Straits Times/via Reuters)}*

This report also marks the first official confirmation of Li’s investigation and the nature of his alleged crimes. Li’s removal as China’s defense chief came after a nearly two-month-long disappearance from the public eye. Admiral Dong Jun succeeded him as China’s defense chief in December 2023.

Similarly, Wei Fenghe, Li’s predecessor as defense minister from 2018 to 2023, disappeared from public view after being replaced in a cabinet reshuffle in March.

These expulsions are a part of the ongoing string of similar incidents of a broader anti-corruption drive led by President Xi Jinping since he took power over a decade ago. Xi has emphasized the need to eradicate corruption, particularly within the military, to ensure the stability and integrity of the Communist Party’s rule.

Speaking at China’s first military-political work conference in a decade last week, President Xi Jinping highlighted the imperative to “eradicate the soil and conditions in which corruption thrives [and] expand the depth and breadth of the anti-corruption struggle.”

In recent years, the Chinese military has faced several corruption scandals. High-profile cases include the downfall of Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou, both former vice-chairmen of the Central Military Commission, who were convicted of corruption. These cases highlighted the pervasive nature of corruption within the ranks of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the significant challenges Xi faces in reforming the military.

^{Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on behalf of the 19th CPC Central Committee in Beijing on October 16, 2022.(Image Credit: Xinhua/via Globaltimes)}

Beyond the military, Xi’s anti-corruption campaign has also targeted various sectors within the Chinese government and state-owned enterprises. In a recent development, the former chairman of China Development Bank, Hu Huaibang, was sentenced to life imprisonment for taking bribes. Similarly, Lai Xiaomin, the former chairman of China Huarong Asset Management, was executed for corruption and bigamy in one of the most severe punishments meted out in the anti-corruption drive.

The expulsions have drawn international attention, highlighting the opaque nature of Chinese political processes and the extent of Xi’s control over the Party. Observers note that while the anti-corruption campaign has led to the removal of many corrupt officials, it has also served as a tool to eliminate political rivals and consolidate power.