China expels PLA general, navy chief and nuclear scientist in sweeping anti-corruption purge

China’s crackdown on its defence and security establishment intensified on Friday with the expulsion of several top military figures, including a senior general, the navy’s chief of staff, and a nuclear industry official from the national legislature.

According to the South China Morning Post, General Miao Hua, Vice Admiral Li Hanjun,  chief of staff of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and Liu Shipeng and deputy chief engineer at China National Nuclear Corporation were removed from the National People’s Congress (NPC).

Li is the most recent among several PLA generals and defence industry leaders to be caught up in the ongoing purge, the report said.

The report also noted that both officials have lost their positions in the legislature.

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Separately, state news agency Xinhua reported that the NPC’s standing committee, which wrapped up its session on Friday, voted to strip General Miao Hua of his membership in the Central Military Commission (CMC),  the top command body of China’s military, led by President Xi Jinping.

Miao, the youngest general in the Chinese military hierarchy, has been under probe for serious violations of discipline since November last year. He was dismissed from the NPC in April this year.

Miao was also director of the Political Work Department of the CMC, a role critical in managing Communist Party ideology and personnel changes within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

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His career advanced significantly after Xi assumed power, leading to roles in the Chinese Navy as a political commissar and eventually becoming the PLA’s youngest admiral.

The defence ministry said Miao was being investigated for suspected serious violations of discipline, a phrase used as a euphemism for corruption.

Since he took over power towards the end of 2012, 72-year-old Xi has carried out massive purges in the country’s over two-million-strong military, removing or punishing dozens of senior generals for corruption and indiscipline.  Those who were punished included two defence ministers as Xi consolidated his hold on the armed forces and the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC).

Xi has repeatedly emphasised the importance of party loyalty among PLA officials to strengthen ideological control and support China’s goal of becoming a military superpower.

Miao is the second CMC member to be removed from his position since the current leadership took office in 2022.

With inputs from agencies