The new Defense Minister, Dong Jun, might add another layer of drama to the 46th Prophecy of the Tui Bei Tu. Provided by "人物真相" (The Truth of People).
[People News] Following a round of purges among senior military officials, CCP General Secretary and Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), Xi Jinping, made a public appearance on December 4. During his address, he emphasized the need for the military to intensify efforts in "rectifying discipline and combating corruption," while also reiterating the importance of ensuring the military’s "absolute loyalty, absolute purity, and absolute reliability." Notably, Dong Jun, China’s Minister of Defense, who was reported by foreign media 10 days earlier to be under investigation for corruption, also made a sudden public appearance on December 5, drawing significant attention.
On December 5, China Central Television (CCTV) reported that Xi Jinping had inspected the Information Support Force, which was established in April this year. Accompanying Xi during the visit were the full leadership of the CMC, including Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia and three other members—He Weidong, Liu Zhenli, and Zhang Shengmin. Absent from the group was CMC member Miao Hua, who had recently been implicated in a scandal. Miao, ranked fifth among CMC members and serving as the Director of the CMC Political Work Department, is widely regarded as a close ally of Xi Jinping. As the head of the Political Work Department, Miao held significant power, overseeing personnel across the military. Previously, Ministry of Defense spokesperson Wu Qian announced that Miao had been suspended and placed under investigation for "serious disciplinary violations."
In the latest round of purges under the guise of anti-corruption efforts, at least nine generals of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and several senior officials in the defense industry have had their National People’s Congress (NPC) delegate qualifications revoked.
As for Dong Jun, who was reported to be under investigation for corruption just 10 days earlier, his sudden public appearance on December 5 has fueled speculation. Reports suggest that during the investigation, Dong Jun provided information detrimental to the recently ousted CMC member Miao Hua, which may have allowed him to temporarily escape further scrutiny.
On the afternoon of December 5, the official website of China's Ministry of Defense announced that Dong Jun had participated in a group meeting in Shanghai with the heads of delegations attending the second Gulf of Guinea Security Situation Seminar. During the meeting, Dong Jun also invoked Xi Jinping’s political terminology, referencing the "China-Africa Community of Shared Destiny."
On November 26, the UK’s Financial Times cited current and former U.S. officials as saying that a corruption scandal had once again erupted in the Chinese military, and Dong Jun was under investigation. However, both China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defense denied these claims.
Was Dong Jun’s sudden appearance intended to signal that he is no longer under scrutiny, or was it merely a deliberately arranged event to quell external speculation? This remains to be seen. Observers have pointed out that Miao Hua was Dong Jun’s key supporter in his career advancement. Given Miao Hua’s downfall, it seems unlikely that Dong Jun would emerge unscathed.
According to a report by The Epoch Times, Yao Cheng, a former CCP Navy lieutenant commander who had previously revealed Miao Hua’s arrest a week in advance, shared insider information on November 28 via his self-media channel. He claimed that a joint investigation team composed of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) and the Military Discipline Inspection Commission had been set up to investigate Miao Hua, focusing on individuals linked to him from the Navy and the Eastern Theater Command. Notably, two former political commissars of the Navy, Qin Shengxiang and Yuan Huazhi, as well as Defense Minister Dong Jun, reportedly provided testimonies unfavorable to Miao Hua.
Yao Cheng stated that these three individuals are still residing in the Navy compound, as observed by others in the area, which suggests they have not yet been taken into custody and are only undergoing routine investigations.
Yao further disclosed that Dong Jun was under investigation starting November 21, which lasted for six days. On November 27, the authorities officially announced Miao Hua’s investigation, likely based on evidence obtained from his close associates.
At the time, Yao analyzed that, based on the authorities’ response to rumors of Dong Jun’s investigation, no specific action had yet been taken against him.
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