BEIJING: According to a report released on Wednesday, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun has been placed under investigation for corruption. This would make him the most recent official to be fired in the nation’s massive campaign against corruption in the military.
According to the British publication the Financial Times, which cited current and former US officials with knowledge of the matter, the investigation against Dong was a component of a larger investigation into military misconduct.
Dong would be the third consecutive Chinese defense minister to be under investigation for corruption if verified.
At a routine conference on Wednesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning was asked about the allegation and said it was merely “chasing shadows.” She did not provide any other details.
A veteran navy officer, he was named defense minister in December when predecessor Li Shangfu was abruptly removed from office after only seven months. According to state media, Li was later kicked out of the ruling Communist Party for alleged bribery and other offenses. Since then, he has not been spotted in public.
Due to allegations of corruption, Wei Fenghe, his predecessor, was also expelled from the party and turned over to prosecutors.
Over the past year, Beijing has intensified its assault on alleged bribery in the military.
