Corruption investigations against the Chinese Communist Party

Sun’s ouster followed anti-corruption investigations launched since last year into at least seven former or current senior military officials in the People’s Liberation Army’s Rocket Force, which oversees the country’s nuclear arsenal. It was the latest anti-corruption purge in the military since last year.

Sun, an alternate member of the party’s 20th Central Committee, assumed the role of chief of staff of the force in 2022 after serving for a long time in its predecessor, the Second Artillery Corps.

Other disgraced generals who served in the force include Li Yuchao, who took over the role of commander in 2022, his predecessor Zhou Yaning, who served from 2017 to 2022, and Wei Fenghe, who led the missile force from its inception until 2017.

Wei, who later served as the country’s defense minister from 2018 to 2023, was also expelled from the party late last month.

The plenum also approved the Politburo’s previous decision to expel former Defense Minister Li Shangfu and Li Yuchao from the party.

Li Shangfu was the country’s shortest-serving defense minister when he was abruptly dismissed in October after just seven months in office.

At the end of August, investigations were launched against the 66-year-old, who was previously responsible for military procurement. He was accused of accepting “large sums of money” to gain advantages for others and of bribing others.

Li Yuchao’s downfall was announced in December when he was dismissed from the National People’s Congress, the country’s highest legislative body.

Although most of the military corruption cases appeared to be coming to a conclusion last year, they continue to cast a long shadow over the PLA.

Dong, a former naval commander, succeeded Li Shangfu two months after his dismissal in October.

Thursday’s communiqué also contained wording that could indicate a further correction of the military after the spate of corruption cases.

The communiqué called for “improving the systems and mechanisms for commanding and managing the people’s armed forces,” echoing Xi’s call to curb corruption following a series of high-level scandals.

During a meeting with the CMC last month, Xi insisted that there could be no place for corruption in the military.

He also stressed the importance of “training a top-class team that is loyal, clean and able to bear the great responsibility”.