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Nine military officials, including He Weidong, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and Miao Hua, a member of the CMC and former director of the Political Work Department of the CMC, have been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the military for serious violation of discipline and the law. Their cases involving suspected crimes have also been transferred to procuratorial organs of the military for examination and prosecution in accordance with the law, Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson of China's Ministry of National Defense said on Friday.

With the approval of the Central Committee of the CPC and the CMC, the CMC Discipline Inspection Commission has placed nine individuals under investigation. They are He Weidong; Miao Hua; He Hongjun, former executive deputy director of the CMC's Political Work Department; Wang Xiubin, former executive deputy director of CMC joint operations command center; Lin Xiangyang, former commander of the Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA); Qin Shutong, former political commissar of the PLA Army; Yuan Huazhi, former political commissar of the PLA Navy; Wang Houbin, former commander of the PLA Rocket Force; and Wang Chunning, former commander of the People's Armed Police Force (PAPF), the spokesperson said.  

The investigation found that these nine individuals seriously violated the Party discipline, were suspected of grave duty-related crimes involving particularly huge amounts of money, and their cases were extremely severe in nature and egregious in impact, Zhang said.

In accordance with relevant CPC regulations and laws, the CPC Central Committee has decided to expel them from the Party and transfer their suspected criminal issues to military procuratorial organs for examination and prosecution in accordance with the law, according to the spokesperson.

Previously, the CMC had decided to dismiss these nine individuals from the military, the spokesperson said.

Zhang said since the 18th CPC National Congress, the entire military and the PAPF have resolutely implemented the decisions and directives of the CPC Central Committee and the CMC, adhered to the principles of no forbidden zones, full coverage, and zero tolerance, and dealt heavy blows in punishing corruption. The fight against corruption in the military has continuously advanced with depth and intensity.

The serious handling of the cases involving He Weidong, Miao, He Hongjun and others once again demonstrates the firm determination of the CPC Central Committee and the CMC to carry the fight against corruption through to the end, he added.

It also underscores a clear stance that there is no hiding place for any corrupt elements within the military, marking a significant achievement in the Party and military's anti-corruption efforts, said Zhang, adding that the people's military has thus become purer, consolidated, and possesses stronger cohesion and combat effectiveness.


Global Times