FORMER CHINESE DEFENCE MINISTERS EXPELLED AMID ANTI-CORRUPTION CRACKDOWN

Fri 28 June 2024:

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has expelled former Defence Minister Li Shangfu, who disappeared and was dismissed last year, along with his predecessor, Wei Fenghe, as part of an ongoing anti-corruption campaign, state media reported.

Li and Wei were removed for “serious violation of party discipline and the law,” according to the official news agency Xinhua. The expulsions come amid heightened tensions between China and the United States over Taiwan.

Li, who was removed in October 2023 after being out of public view for nearly two months, has had his case referred to military prosecutors, potentially facing a trial that could result in a life sentence.

The Politburo, the CCP’s senior leadership, convened on Thursday to assess Li’s case, concluding that he had “betrayed his original mission and lost his party spirit and principles,” as reported by state broadcaster CCTV.

Li is accused of significantly damaging the party’s cause, national defense, and military construction by corrupting the political and industrial environment in military equipment. He allegedly accepted large bribes and provided illicit benefits to others.

Wei, who retired as defence minister in 2023 after five years, was accused of accepting money and gifts in violation of regulations and leveraging his position for personal gain, according to Xinhua.

President Xi Jinping, also the party leader and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has prioritized anti-corruption efforts since assuming power over a decade ago. Insiders suggest a widespread purge of officers suspected of disloyalty or collusion with external forces.

The CCP is set to hold a crucial meeting on July 15-18, delayed from its original schedule, to discuss future strategies to boost the world’s second-largest economy amid rising geopolitical tensions with the US and the European Union over tariff hikes.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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