A seismic shock has reverberated through the highest echelons of the Chinese military. Admiral Dong Jun, only recently appointed as China’s defense minister in December 2023, has become the subject of a corruption investigation, according to multiple sources. This stunning development marks the third consecutive serving or former Chinese defense minister to be ensnared in the ongoing anti-corruption purge initiated by President Xi Jinping.
The Financial Times, citing current and former US officials with direct knowledge of the situation, reports that Dong Jun has been dismissed from his post and is currently under investigation. This unprecedented sequence of investigations casts a long shadow over the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), raising serious questions about its internal stability and operational readiness. Before his elevation to the defense minister’s office, Dong Jun served as the chief of the PLA Navy. His predecessor, Li Shangfu, also appointed by Xi Jinping, was sacked after just seven months in the role due to allegations of corruption related to equipment procurement and development. Similarly, Li Shangfu’s predecessor, Wei Fenghe, faced investigation for corruption after his retirement.
The sheer scale of the anti-corruption campaign within the PLA is staggering. Since last year, nine PLA generals and at least four executives from the aerospace defense industry have been removed from the National People’s Congress, China’s national legislature. This aggressive purge, while presented as an effort to combat graft, has also raised concerns among US military officials and analysts. These sources suggest that the investigations are significantly undermining Xi Jinping’s confidence in his military’s capabilities, prompting questions about whether the PLA will achieve its stated goal of possessing the capacity to invade Taiwan by 2027, a target set by the Chinese president.
The implications extend beyond China’s internal affairs. Dong Jun’s refusal to meet with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at a recent Asian defense meeting in Laos, citing US actions regarding Taiwan, underscores the heightened tensions between the two superpowers. Secretary Austin characterized the refusal as “unfortunate.” While a previous meeting between the two ministers occurred in May at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore – their first significant engagement since November 2022 – this recent snub highlights the deepening mistrust and escalating geopolitical complexities. The details of the corruption allegations against Dong Jun remain unclear, but the sheer number of high-ranking officials implicated underscores the gravity of the situation and its potential ramifications for regional and global stability.
