Admiral Dong Jun, the Chinese Defense Minister, is reportedly under investigation, making him the latest high-ranking official to fall under the purview of President Xi Jinping’s extensive anti-corruption campaign.
Dong has been in office for less than a year, and his probe follows a pattern of high-level purges within China’s leadership. While the exact charges against him remain unspecified, U.S. officials have confirmed that his investigation is part of Xi’s ongoing drive to eliminate corruption among the ruling elite.
Dong’s investigation adds to the growing list of defense ministers facing scrutiny. His predecessor, Li Shangfu, was removed from his position after just six months in office in August 2023. Similarly, Qin Gang, who served as China’s Foreign Minister, was ousted earlier in July 2023, both after brief tenures.
These high-profile expulsions underscore broader concerns about the effectiveness of China’s internal vetting processes and have fueled criticism of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) handling of corruption.
The case against Dong is viewed by analysts like Neil Thomas, a fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute, as indicative of widespread corruption within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
Investigation of Chinese Defense Minister Admiral Dong Jun Highlights Xi Jinping’s Anti-Corruption Purge
Dong’s investigation is seen as embarrassing for the Chinese leadership, particularly because he is not part of Xi’s inner circle, unlike his predecessor Li Shangfu. Thomas also pointed out that the investigation may signal deeper systemic issues, suggesting that corruption within the PLA extends beyond the Rocket Force, the branch that oversees China’s nuclear arsenal.
This development follows a tense diplomatic moment between China and the U.S. Dong had recently skipped a scheduled meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at the ASEAN defense ministers’ summit in Laos. The Chinese government cited the U.S.’s arms sales to Taiwan as the reason for the snub.
Taiwan remains a contentious issue, as Beijing views it as part of its territory despite never having governed the island, and any perceived interference by foreign nations, especially through arms sales, is strongly condemned by China.
Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign, launched in 2013, has targeted millions of CCP members, with over 4 million officials investigated so far. While the campaign is presented as an effort to combat corruption at all levels, some critics argue that it has also served as a tool for Xi to eliminate political rivals and consolidate his personal power.
The removals of key figures within the military, such as those in the Rocket Force, raise concerns about the stability of China’s leadership and its control over critical military assets like nuclear weapons.
