Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun Investigated In Corruption Cases

JAKARTA - Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun is being investigated regarding the handling of a corruption case that rocked the top ranks of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

Dong is the person who served or former China's third consecutive defense minister to be investigated on suspicion of corruption, the Financial Times reported.

Reported by Reuters on Wednesday, November 27, the Chinese military has carried out a massive cleaning of corruption eradication since last year.

Nine PLA generals and several defense industry executives have been removed from the national legislature to date.

Dong, former PLA Navy commander, was appointed defense minister in December 2023. His predecessor, Li Shangfu, was removed after seven months in office.

Last week Dong refused to meet US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at a meeting of defense ministers in Laos citing US actions against Taiwan.

Two of Dong's predecessors, Li and Wei Fenghe, were expelled from the Communist Party in June for "serious disciplinary violations".

The Communist Party's statement at the time said the couple betrayed the trust of the party and the Central Military Commission, seriously polluting the military's political environment, and causing major damage to the image of its senior leader.

The couple is also known to accept large amounts of bribes and "seek personnel allowances" for other people.

Reuters exclusively reported last year that Li was being investigated on suspicion of corruption in military procurement.

Wei disappeared from public view after he was replaced in March 2023 during a planned cabinet reshuffle. Meanwhile Wei is the head of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) strategic Rocket Force from 2015-2017.