https://www.scmp.com/rss/524415/feed The latest news and updates on Miao Hua, an Admiral in the Chinese People’s Liberation Army who served as Director of the Central Military Commission’s Political Work Department from 2017 until his suspension in November 2024. His extensive career in military political work included roles as Political Commissar of the PLA Navy and Lanzhou Military Region. He was responsible for enforcing party ideology, personnel management, and overseeing senior PLA promotions. Elevated by President Xi Jinping,... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang Chinese President Xi Jinping has again sought to shore up the military’s ideological defences, demanding absolute loyalty to the Communist Party from all ranks, just weeks after the country’s top general came under investigation for corruption. “There must be no room within the military for those harbouring disloyalty towards the party, nor any shelter for corrupt individuals,” Xi told a meeting of military and armed police lawmakers on the sidelines of the National People’s Congress (NPC) on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3345830/xi-jinpings-zero-fail-mission-chinas-military-total-loyalty-no-corruption?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3345830/xi-jinpings-zero-fail-mission-chinas-military-total-loyalty-no-corruption?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 14:00:07 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The Central Military Commission, the top decision-making body overseeing the People’s Liberation Army, is set for a leadership reshuffle after the downfall of most of its members. President Xi Jinping is now in his third term as chairman of the commission. But now five of the other six members of the commission – who were all originally expected to serve a five-year term, ending in 2027 – are no longer active. Last month Zhang Youxia, first-ranked vice-chairman of the CMC and China’s most senior... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343361/what-chinas-central-military-commission-and-how-does-it-operate-amid-anti-graft-drive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343361/what-chinas-central-military-commission-and-how-does-it-operate-amid-anti-graft-drive?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 00:00:32 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng The PLA’s anti-corruption investigations into top general Zhang Youxia and others will eliminate a watered-down combat capability resulting from corruption and give new momentum to the armed forces, the official paper of the Chinese military has said. “The resolute investigation and punishment of corrupt officials such as Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli removes obstacles and stumbling blocks that hinder the development of our cause,” the PLA Daily said in a front-page editorial on Monday. “It... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3342072/zhang-youxia-investigation-end-watered-down-capability-chinas-military?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3342072/zhang-youxia-investigation-end-watered-down-capability-chinas-military?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 07:01:12 +0000 Meredith Chen,William Zheng Meredith Chen,William Zheng A former Communist Party chief of the resource-rich Inner Mongolia autonomous region, who was also China’s first veterans affairs minister, is under investigation amid the country’s continuing anti-corruption campaign. Sun Shaocheng, 65, is being investigated by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection for “suspected serious violations of discipline and law”, a euphemism for corruption, the top disciplinary body said on Thursday. Sun serves as vice-chairman of the Social Development... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3341764/former-inner-mongolia-party-chief-veterans-minister-investigated-corruption?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3341764/former-inner-mongolia-party-chief-veterans-minister-investigated-corruption?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 06:00:12 +0000 Wenran Jiang Wenran Jiang For China’s leadership, the most urgent lesson of modern military power comes not from a foreign manual but from its own history books. Its catastrophic defeat by Japan in 1895, born of internal corruption, forms the invisible backdrop to every Chinese showcase of modern hardware. The recent live-fire drill around Taiwan code-named Justice Mission 2025 – a forceful display of Beijing’s resolve to achieve reunification and deter any challenge to its core interests – was no exception. To Beijing,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3338815/how-chinas-history-links-military-strength-fighting-corruption?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3338815/how-chinas-history-links-military-strength-fighting-corruption?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 01:30:11 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng China’s ruling Communist Party has vowed to press ahead with President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign after a record 65 high-ranking officials were detained by the country’s top anti-graft agency last year. In a front-page editorial on Saturday, the People’s Daily stressed that self-reform and anti-corruption efforts were key to ensuring the longevity of the party’s rule over China. “A new year, a new journey begins,” the party mouthpiece said, urging intensified discipline in the coming... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3338596/xi-jinpings-anti-corruption-drive-snares-record-65-tigers-2025?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3338596/xi-jinpings-anti-corruption-drive-snares-record-65-tigers-2025?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Jan 2026 10:00:16 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng President Xi Jinping has sent a new warning to Chinese cadres – “no one should harbour any illusions” that they can get away with corruption as there will be no let-up in the long-running anti-graft campaign. He told officials at a key political meeting in October there would be no place for the corrupt to hide, according to excerpts from his speech released on Wednesday. “[We must] maintain a high-pressure stance against corruption at all times, investigate and punish corruption cases according... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3338375/we-must-not-give-corrupt-officials-any-hiding-place-xi-jinping-tells-cadres?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3338375/we-must-not-give-corrupt-officials-any-hiding-place-xi-jinping-tells-cadres?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Jan 2026 04:59:47 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng China’s ruling Communist Party has vowed to keep up efforts to fight corruption next year after a record 63 high-ranking officials – known as “tigers” – were placed under investigation on suspicion of graft in 2025. During a meeting on Thursday, top decision-making body the Politburo also discussed a plan to improve conduct within the party, strengthen integrity and combat graft, official news agency Xinhua reported. It said officials at the meeting had agreed to “resolutely push forward the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3337759/china-vows-keep-fight-after-record-number-tigers-caught-corruption-net?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3337759/china-vows-keep-fight-after-record-number-tigers-caught-corruption-net?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Dec 2025 04:00:12 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng Two top PLA Air Force officers have become the latest military brass to miss a key political event, as the anti-corruption campaign in the Chinese military continues unabated. Footage broadcast by state television CCTV indicated that General Chang Dingqiu and Guo Puxiao, Air Force commander and political commissar, respectively, were not present at a ceremony on Monday to fill top-level vacancies caused by the sweeping crackdown. The event in Beijing was led by President Xi Jinping, who is also... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3337636/top-pla-air-force-duo-miss-key-military-event-led-xi-corruption-fight-rolls?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3337636/top-pla-air-force-duo-miss-key-military-event-led-xi-corruption-fight-rolls?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Dec 2025 10:00:45 +0000 Sylvie Zhuang Sylvie Zhuang China’s leader has promoted two PLA commanders who oversee the Taiwan Strait and the city of Beijing, suggesting that the dust has begun to settle following a massive purge in the military over corruption concerns. President Xi Jinping promoted Yang Zhibin, commander of the Eastern Theatre Command, to the rank of full general on Monday, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The move formally confirms Yang as head of the Eastern Theatre Command. Yang previously served as a lieutenant general in... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3337383/xi-jinping-promotes-pla-commanders-overseeing-taiwan-strait-beijing-full-general?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3337383/xi-jinping-promotes-pla-commanders-overseeing-taiwan-strait-beijing-full-general?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Dec 2025 14:43:41 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang The People’s Liberation Army has made a rare public appeal for tip-offs about procurement problems in its air force, as Beijing presses ahead with its anti-corruption campaign in the military. The announcement was posted on Monday on the PLA’s official procurement website – the main bid information platform for suppliers – seeking information about “irregular” procurement activities organised by air force units. It is the first time such a request has been made about a specific branch of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336804/chinas-military-calls-tip-offs-it-targets-corruption-air-force-procurement?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336804/chinas-military-calls-tip-offs-it-targets-corruption-air-force-procurement?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 02:00:09 +0000 Sylvie Zhuang Sylvie Zhuang It has been a turbulent year for the fraught US-China relationship. In the third part of a series looking back at the events of 2025, we examine China’s growing military might and how it’s narrowing the tech gap with the US. US defence chief Pete Hegseth told a conference in Washington this month that America would maintain a “clear-eyed appreciation” of China’s “rapid, formidable and holistic” military build-up. That build-up is being watched globally, with defence experts in recent years... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336735/why-chinas-rapid-military-build-hardly-whole-story?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336735/why-chinas-rapid-military-build-hardly-whole-story?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 22:00:09 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng The mainland Chinese military’s Eastern Theatre Command, the corruption-hit division that oversees Taiwan, appears to be headed by two recent additions to the command. The appointments will enable the command to maintain continuity of operations despite the corruption cases among its leadership, according to an analyst. PLA Air Force Lieutenant General Yang Zhibin, 62, and Lieutenant General Zhang Jichun, 57, stood alongside other senior officials at mainland China’s annual commemoration of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336778/pla-division-overseeing-taiwan-sees-newcomers-charge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336778/pla-division-overseeing-taiwan-sees-newcomers-charge?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 09:49:35 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng The Chinese military has laid out new rules to strengthen political discipline and party loyalty, vowing to eradicate “erroneous political views and inappropriate remarks” and “fake combat capabilities”. The revisions to the supplementary rules to the implementation of the Communist Party’s disciplinary regulations will come into effect on January 1, 2026, and are part of an ongoing crackdown on corruption that has led to the downfall of several top generals in recent months. On Monday, PLA... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3334947/chinese-military-issues-new-rules-prioritise-strict-political-discipline?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3334947/chinese-military-issues-new-rules-prioritise-strict-political-discipline?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Dec 2025 04:00:10 +0000 Yuanyue Dang,William Zheng Yuanyue Dang,William Zheng Even for the anti-graft era of President Xi Jinping, the wave of investigations into alleged corruption in the Chinese military over the past three years has been exceptional. Last month, nine senior People’s Liberation Army (PLA) officers were expelled from the Communist Party and the military, including He Weidong, formerly China’s second-highest-ranking military officer. They are accused of having “violated party discipline and allegedly committed serious crimes related to their duties” –... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3332692/top-pla-heads-have-rolled-chinas-hunt-corrupt-military-officials-may-be-here-stay?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3332692/top-pla-heads-have-rolled-chinas-hunt-corrupt-military-officials-may-be-here-stay?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Nov 2025 22:00:23 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei The Chinese military’s top general has pledged to crack down on “fake loyalty” and “two-faced men” and to speed up weapons development in the next five years. General Zhang Youxia, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and a Politburo member, made the remarks in an article published as part of a collection supporting the Communist Party’s policy recommendations for the 15th five-year plan from 2026 to 2030. The articles – written by dozens of senior officials from all policy areas –... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3331516/chinas-top-general-vows-crack-down-fake-loyalty-and-two-faced-men?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3331516/chinas-top-general-vows-crack-down-fake-loyalty-and-two-faced-men?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Nov 2025 04:00:12 +0000 William Zheng,Alcott Wei William Zheng,Alcott Wei China’s military mouthpiece has described political loyalty and fighting corruption as crucial for winning wars, a day after a Communist Party conclave endorsed a reshuffle and anti-corruption drive in the armed forces. At the fourth plenum of the party’s Central Committee, which concluded on Thursday, the military’s anti-corruption chief, Zhang Shengmin, was promoted to vice-chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC) headed by President Xi Jinping. Party leaders also endorsed... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3330257/win-wars-pla-must-fight-corruption-chinas-military-mouthpiece-declares?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3330257/win-wars-pla-must-fight-corruption-chinas-military-mouthpiece-declares?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Oct 2025 12:00:09 +0000 Yuanyue Dang,Alcott Wei,William Zheng Yuanyue Dang,Alcott Wei,William Zheng China has promoted Zhang Shengmin, the military’s anti-graft chief, to vice-chair of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), which is headed by President Xi Jinping. And Zhang Fengzhong, a senior general with the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, has been placed under investigation for corruption, according to a communique of the fourth plenary session of the Communist Party’s Central Committee, which concluded on Thursday. Zhang Fengzhong was an alternate member of the Central... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3330061/china-makes-anti-graft-chief-zhang-shengmin-vice-chair-central-military-commission?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3330061/china-makes-anti-graft-chief-zhang-shengmin-vice-chair-central-military-commission?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Oct 2025 09:05:15 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang China’s ruling Communist Party kicked off a key four-day conclave on Monday that will determine the country’s development over the next five years. The fourth plenum of the party’s Central Committee began on Monday morning, according to state news agency Xinhua. Party General Secretary Xi Jinping, who is also the nation’s president, delivered a work report to the meeting and outlined the party’s proposals for the next five-year plan, which will be submitted for deliberation, a brief report said... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3329656/chinas-communist-party-kicks-fourth-plenum-amid-tightened-security-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3329656/chinas-communist-party-kicks-fourth-plenum-amid-tightened-security-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Oct 2025 07:30:36 +0000 Josephine Ma Josephine Ma China has accused the nine generals expelled from the Communist Party on Friday of seriously undermining the principle that the military should be loyal to the party, saying that they dealt a serious blow to the unity of the armed forces and the image of senior officers. In an editorial published on Saturday, military mouthpiece PLA Daily said the disgraced nine – including He Weidong, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and a member of the 24-man Politburo – had been... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3329511/expelled-chinese-generals-disloyal-and-dealt-serious-blow-army-pla-daily?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3329511/expelled-chinese-generals-disloyal-and-dealt-serious-blow-army-pla-daily?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Oct 2025 08:30:26 +0000 Yuanyue Dang,Amber Wang,Liu Zhen Yuanyue Dang,Amber Wang,Liu Zhen China’s second-ranked military general has become the latest PLA top brass to fall from grace, with the defence ministry announcing that he was under investigation and had been dismissed from service and the party. He Weidong, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and a member of the 24-man Politburo, was expelled from the Communist Party and the armed forces, China’s Ministry of National Defence announced on Friday. The CMC, chaired by President Xi Jinping, sits at the apex of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3329429/chinas-no-2-general-he-weidong-expelled-communist-party?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3329429/chinas-no-2-general-he-weidong-expelled-communist-party?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Oct 2025 09:37:41 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng The fourth plenum of China’s ruling Communist Party taking place this month will be closely watched for potential reshuffles, with at least nine members of its top policymaking Central Committee set to be replaced. These changes are expected either due to ongoing corruption investigations or because some officials have passed away, marking a new high in turnover since 2017. The fourth plenum is one of seven typically held during each five-year term of the Central Committee. The coming edition... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3328127/chinas-fourth-plenum-poised-highest-central-committee-turnover-8-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3328127/chinas-fourth-plenum-poised-highest-central-committee-turnover-8-years?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Oct 2025 22:00:08 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei China’s military parade next month will offer a rare opportunity for outsiders to observe which generals are valued by the People’s Liberation Army top brass. The PLA does not publish regular updates on its personnel changes, so the identity of those given prominent roles will provide clues about who might be in line for more senior positions. But the absence of certain figures may also offer clues about who has fallen foul of the ongoing anti-corruption campaign within the military, which has... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3323685/chinas-military-parade-provides-reminder-plas-former-rising-stars-who-fell-earth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3323685/chinas-military-parade-provides-reminder-plas-former-rising-stars-who-fell-earth?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Aug 2025 12:00:15 +0000 Yuanyue Dang,Amber Wang Yuanyue Dang,Amber Wang China is on a mission to turn its military into a modern fighting force. In the final article in this four-part series, we look at President Xi Jinping’s military goals and obstacles facing the People’s Liberation Army. The 80th anniversary of China’s victory over Japan in World War II is intended to display both the strength and solidarity of the People’s Liberation Army. But just two weeks before it is set to take place, Beijing announced that former navy chief of staff Li Hanjun – a veteran... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3323170/chinas-2027-pla-goal-victory-day-parade-puts-progress-and-challenges-show?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3323170/chinas-2027-pla-goal-victory-day-parade-puts-progress-and-challenges-show?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Aug 2025 22:00:09 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng China’s ruling Communist Party has scheduled a key annual conclave for October, with a main focus on deliberating the next five-year plan for the country’s economic, political and social goals amid continued tension with the United States. The announcement came after a meeting of the Politburo on Wednesday that set the tone for the coming fourth plenary session to be attended by more than 370 Central Committee members of the party elite. The much-anticipated plenum will be held in Beijing,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3320102/china-convene-gathering-october-discuss-next-five-year-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3320102/china-convene-gathering-october-discuss-next-five-year-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Jul 2025 06:20:42 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng China’s official military newspaper has urged the force’s political officers to rebuild their image by showing more loyalty to the top leadership, honesty in their work, and integrity in how they promote soldiers. The series of commentaries in the PLA Daily follows Beijing’s new disciplinary guidelines released on Monday to “eliminate toxic influences” in the work of political officers, after a string of high-profile military crackdowns. The latest events include the removal last month of top... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3319628/chinas-pla-daily-outlines-image-redemption-checklist-political-officers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3319628/chinas-pla-daily-outlines-image-redemption-checklist-political-officers?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Jul 2025 08:00:13 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai China’s top military body has issued a new set of guidelines for political officers following a series of corruption cases. The regulations, released by the Central Military Commission (CMC), were designed to “strengthen political loyalty”, according to the official newspaper PLA Daily. The report stressed the importance of Communist Party officials embedded within the military “acting with fairness and integrity in personnel matters, and leading by example”. A separate commentary published by... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3319030/eliminate-toxic-influences-chinas-military-issues-new-political-guidelines-after-wave-corruption?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3319030/eliminate-toxic-influences-chinas-military-issues-new-political-guidelines-after-wave-corruption?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Jul 2025 10:25:00 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng Miao Hua, a top general who once oversaw the People’s Liberation Army’s ideology work, has been removed from the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC). State news agency Xinhua said the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress “voted to remove Miao Hua from his position as a member of the Central Military Commission” at its closing meeting on Friday in Beijing. The announcement about the high-profile military corruption investigation came two months after Miao, 69, was stripped... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3316117/former-pla-ideology-chief-miao-hua-removed-chinas-central-military-commission?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3316117/former-pla-ideology-chief-miao-hua-removed-chinas-central-military-commission?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Jun 2025 09:36:33 +0000 SCMP Reporter SCMP Reporter The Chinese navy’s chief of staff and a top nuclear scientist have been stripped of their membership of the country’s legislature. Vice Admiral Li Hanjun, chief of staff of the People’s Liberation Army Navy, and Liu Shipeng, deputy chief engineer at state-owned China National Nuclear Corporation, have been expelled from the National People’s Congress (NPC). Li is the latest of a string of PLA generals and a handful of defence industry executives to have been implicated in a sweeping crackdown in... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3316110/chinese-navy-chief-staff-and-nuclear-scientist-expelled-top-legislature?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3316110/chinese-navy-chief-staff-and-nuclear-scientist-expelled-top-legislature?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Jun 2025 09:20:20 +0000