Defense Minister of China, Dong Jun is under investigation for alleged corruption, according to a report by the Financial Times on Wednesday.
This marks the latest development in a significant anti-corruption campaign targeting the Chinese military. Dong, a former navy commander who took office in December, would be the third consecutive defense minister to face corruption probes.
According to report , his predecessor, Li Shangfu, was removed from his post after only seven months and later expelled from the Communist Party for alleged bribery. Wei Fenghe, another former defense minister, also faced similar charges. The investigation into Dong is part of an ongoing effort to root out corruption in the armed forces, amid concerns that such misconduct could undermine China’s military readiness.
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Dong’s investigation follows a snub to U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during a recent meeting in Laos, where Dong cited U.S. actions on Taiwan as the reason for his refusal to meet. The tightening of antiــcorruption measures comes as United States Officials express concerns that the prevalence of graft within China’s military could hinder its future combat capabilities.
