Next, please: China’s defense minister suspected of corruption

Xi’s corruption hunters convicted more than 600,000 party members

This doesn’t bode well for Dong himself: the fight against corruption in the state apparatus is one of the president’s political hobbyhorses Xi Jinping. Observers criticize the responsible disciplinary commission of the Communist Party as an extension of the chairman, with whom he eliminates critics and political rivals.

Between 2012 and 2021, more than 630,000 low-level and almost 400 high-ranking party members are said to have been convicted of corruption offenses.

What exactly Dong is accused of is unclear. Such investigations usually only become official Weeks or months later confirmed – if at all. On Tuesday, a government spokeswoman initially reacted mockingly to the reports about Dong: Foreign media were “chasing shadows.”

There are good reasons to take the rumors seriously; after all, several ministers have recently fallen victim to corruption hunters. The best-known example is probably the former foreign minister Qin Gangwhich will take place in summer 2023 suddenly disappeared – after just six months in office. His fate has not yet been completely clarified to this day.

Particularly high pressure on the military

What is particularly striking is the pressure the disciplinary commission has been exerting on the Chinese military for years. First of all, the resignation of the then Defense Minister in March 2023 caused concern Wei Fenghe for a stir; it was announced in his absence.

His successor, the army general Li Shangfuonly lasted five months in office before he also died in August 2023 disappeared from public view without a trace. It took almost a year for the party to declare this summer that both were due Corruption offenses been convicted.

According to international think tanks, the background is likely to be politically sensitive. Xi Jinping should take targeted action against those high-ranking military officers who, in his opinion, are not willing to to wage war over the island of Taiwan in the near futurethat China claims for itself.

This is supported by the fact that the People’s Liberation Army’s missile command, which plays a major role in preparing for an invasion of Taiwan, has been cleaned up. From this department should be in the previous year Attack plans leaked to US intelligence agencies have been – around Li Shangfu’s disappearance were therefore also arrested the two leading generals of the missile command.

Xi’s distrust of the generals would also explain his appointment of a navy admiral, Dong Jun, as defense minister for the first time.

Why it is tricky when there is no defense minister for a long time

The role of the defense minister in China is somewhat smaller than in other countries. The People’s Liberation Army is not subordinate to the government, but to the communist party. The military commander in chief is the party chairman Xi Jinping.

Nevertheless, the defense minister plays an important role in contact with the military of other countries. There has been a lot of need for discussion in recent years: In South China Sea about where China is with Indonesia and the Philippines is in conflict; around the island Taiwanwhere China’s threatening gestures are affecting international maritime trade, as well as in contact with the United States.

There, the foreseeable end of Dong Jun’s career is causing great concern, after all, the post of defense minister remained after Li Shangfu’s disappearance last year vacant for four months – and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin without an interlocutor during this time.