Two former Chinese defense ministers are facing military prosecution for alleged abuse of power, bribery, and “betrayal” of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the military mission, according to state-run media.
Experts suggested that toppling these two bigwigs could be seen as laying the groundwork for further military purges.
Their cases were defined as “extremely serious in nature, extremely adverse in effect, and particularly giant in damage,” as per the military commission, according to state-run media.
The military’s top watchdog has already stripped both men of their general ranks and expelled them from the party on a raft of charges, including “abuse of authority,” “bribery,” “seriously violating political discipline,” “defying organizational scrutiny,” and “disloyalty” to the party and the military mission.
Mr. Wei served as the 12th defense minister from March 2018 to March 2023, while Mr. Li took office as the 13th one between March and October 2023, only a little more than half a year.
Akio Yaita, a veteran Japanese journalist familiar with the situation in China, told the Chinese Language of The Epoch Times on June 28 that the simultaneous punitive reports about two former defense ministers have left everyone in the military “feeling insecure and anxious.”
China affairs commentator Wang He shared a similar opinion that “this move reflected a fact that most of the people in the CCP military, including those promoted by Xi himself, are two-faced. The military is unstable as Xi can’t convince them.”
“There is a great deal of disagreement among senior generals about the ongoing military policy and strategy toward Taiwan and the United States,” Mr. Wang said, “the acrimony in the Chinese army is mounting.”
Mr. Wang noted that the Military Committee submitted its report on the punishment of the two ministerial officials before the third plenary session, “which might be an effort from Xi to deter the opposite forces in the military and ensure the safety of the party conference.”
Political Overhaul Of Military
From June 17 to 19, Xi convened a political conference of the Central Military Commission in Yan'an, Shaanxi Province. At the meeting, Xi emphasized that the purpose of convening the all-military political work conference is to make it clear that “the barrel of a gun is always in the hands of those who are loyal and reliable to the Party.”“It could be a sign that Xi is following Mao’s example by sending a serious signal of deterrence to the entire army, especially its top generals,” Mr. Wang said.
Zhang Youxia
Zhang Youxia, the first-ranked vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, may be another target of a military purge as Xi has been paving his way to weaken the military’s second figure’s influence, according to Mr. Yaita.
The punitive report against Mr. Li included the offense of bribery. Mr. Yaita said Gen. Zhang is one of Mr. Li’s noticeable superiors.
Gen. Zhang was once head of the People’s Liberation Army General Armaments Department from November 2015 to August 2017. Mr. Li was his subordinate and later took over Gen. Zhang’s post when the latter was promoted to vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, according to Mr. Yaita.
According to Mr. Wang, more than bribery itself, various political uncertainties surrounding the military loyalty to Xi against the top echelons of the military, including Gen. Zhang, are the main reasons for the CCP’s escalating military overhaul.
The penalty reports for Mr. Wei and Mr. Li both contain the same statement, “Other clues to serious disciplinary violations were found during the investigation.” Mr. Wang said that despite no specific description, the degree of severity of the punishment meted out to the two officials by the Military Prosecutor’s Office left a great deal of room for maneuver.
