Chinese Communist Party Expels Two Former Defence Ministers Amid Corruption Allegations

The Chinese Communist Party, China’s ruling party, has expelled two former defence ministers in an ‘anti-corruption crackdown’, as reported by Al Jazeera citing state media. The expelled individuals include Defence Minister Li Shangfu, who was dismissed last year after going missing, and his predecessor Wei Fenghe.

The official news agency Xinhua reported on Thursday that the expulsion of Li and his predecessor Wei Fenghe was due to “serious violation of party discipline and the law”. This purge coincides with rising tensions between China and the United States concerning the status of Taiwan.

In October 2023, Li was dismissed from his position shortly after his disappearance from public view for nearly two months. Xinhua reported that his case had been forwarded to military prosecutors, potentially paving the way for a trial that could result in a life sentence. The Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party’s senior leaders met on Thursday to discuss Li’s situation. They ruled that Li had “betrayed his original mission and lost his party spirit and principles”, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

Li is alleged to have “seriously polluted the political environment and industrial ethos in the field of military equipment, and caused great damage to the party’s cause, national defence and the construction of the armed forces.”

The former defence minister was also accused of bribery, suspected of “taking advantage of his position and taking huge sums of money to seek benefits for others … and giving money to others to seek inappropriate benefits”, said CCTV.

Wei, who retired as defence minister in 2023 after serving for five years, has been accused of accepting money and gifts against regulations and leveraging his position to benefit others in exchange for money and valuables, according to Xinhua. His case has also been handed over to military prosecutors.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, who leads both the party and the armed forces as chairman of the Central Military Commission, has emphasized combating corruption since assuming power over a decade ago, as reported by Al Jazeera. However, insiders have alleged a widespread purge targeting officers suspected of collaborating with external forces or showing inadequate loyalty to Xi. Senior military officers hold significant political influence and enjoy substantial privileges in Chinese politics.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Communist Party is preparing for a highly anticipated meeting scheduled for July 15-18, focusing on future strategies amidst escalating geopolitical tensions arising from tariff increases by the US and the European Union.