China's Military Shakeup: Top Official Under Investigation

In a recent development, China has suspended a high-ranking military official, Admiral Miao Hua, who is part of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC). He is under investigation for breaking the rules, a term often used to mean corruption. This comes as the leader, Xi Jinping, is pushing forward a large-scale clean-up in the military's top ranks. Miao, 69, has been a close associate of Xi, serving together in the coastal province of Fujian. He leads the Political Work Department of the CMC, overseeing the army's politics. His suspension follows reports that Defense Minister Dong Jun is also under investigation, though the Defense Ministry denies these claims.

Since last year, Xi has been working to make China's military stronger and more aggressive. He has removed several senior generals, including former defense ministers Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe, for corruption. These changes aim to transform the military into a top-tier force, with billions spent on equipment. The ongoing shake-up in the military's leadership involves many top officers and aerospace executives. Most of those removed have ties to the Rocket Force or military equipment. Miao is seen as a supporter of the current Defense Minister, Dong, who also served in the navy. Xi has been focusing on removing corruption and disloyalty since he took power in 2012. This recent string of suspensions suggests that his campaign is far from over.

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