China has dismissed 9 senior military officers on corruption charges. These include Politburo members and those close to Xi Jinping. Political reasons are also believed to be behind this action.
Beijing: China has taken a major action against its senior military officers. Nine senior military chiefs, including a Communist Party Politburo member, have been dismissed. Action has been taken against these nine officers by accusing them of serious financial crimes. Those expelled from the army also include those close to President Xi Jinping. This action comes just ahead of the Central Committee Plenum, which is to discuss the country’s economic development and elect new members, which makes it even more significant.
The Defense Ministry has said in a statement that this dismissal is part of the fight against corruption, but it is believed that there are political reasons behind this action. Prominent people against whom action has been taken include He Weidong, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC). He Weidong, who holds the second highest post in the Chinese military after President Xi Jinping, was last seen in public last March. He Weidong is the first sitting member of the Politburo to face such action.
Other senior officials dismissed included CMC Political Work Department Director Miao Hua, Political Work Department Executive Deputy Director He Hongjun, Joint Operations Command Center Executive Deputy Director Wang Xiubin, Eastern Theater Commander Lin Xiangyang and top military chief Yuan Huoshi. Wang Houbin and Wang Chunning.