In a sweeping escalation of its anti-corruption campaign, China has officially removed General Miao Hua from the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), the country’s top military decision-making body. The move, approved by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, underscores President Xi Jinping’s intensifying crackdown on graft within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
🛡️ Who Is Miao Hua?
- A 69-year-old political commissar, Miao was once considered a trusted ally of Xi Jinping, having served in Fujian province during Xi’s tenure there
- He rose to become Director of the CMC’s Political Work Department, overseeing ideological control and personnel management in the PLA
- Miao was suspended in 2024 and placed under investigation for “serious violations of discipline”, a term widely interpreted as corruption
🔍 Part of a Broader Military Shake-Up
- Miao’s removal follows the expulsion of over a dozen senior military officials since 2023, including two former defence ministers and top officers linked to the Rocket Force, which manages China’s nuclear arsenal
- Vice Admiral Li Hanjun, Chief of Staff of the PLA Navy, was also stripped of his parliamentary status on the same day
- Another CMC member, General He Weidong, has not been seen in public since March, fueling speculation of further purges
🧭 Strategic and Political Implications
- The purge reflects Xi’s push to tighten party control over the military and eliminate dissent within the ranks
- Analysts suggest the crackdown may also be aimed at restructuring the PLA’s procurement and command systems, especially amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific
- Miao’s ouster is the second removal of a CMC member since the current leadership took office in 2022
📌 Why It Matters
- Signals Xi Jinping’s unrelenting grip on China’s military and political elite
- Raises questions about stability and morale within the PLA
- Could impact China’s military modernization and strategic posture in the region
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