In China, the army is undergoing a vast reshuffle. Fratricidal struggles? Corruption ? Suspicion of espionage? The opacity in the corridors of power is total. On Friday, Beijing ended the uncertainty that has lasted several months since the dismissal of Defense Minister Li Shangfu. A successor has finally been named. But as the world’s largest military attempts to establish itself as the dominant power in the region, the restructuring does not stop there.
1 min
Heads continue to roll in the army, and as usual, those in power remain silent without providing the slightest explanation for this purge which began with the disappearance of Defense Minister Li Shangfu last August.
Read alsoChina dismisses its defense minister and fires its ex-foreign minister
The day after the appointment of his replacement Dong Jun, who until now was commander of the navy, Beijing announces the exclusion of nine military officials from its Parliament, including four generals from a unit responsible for strategic missiles. An ultra-sensitive unit because it supervises China’s nuclear weapons. Already last July, the authorities had given it new management. The media then reported a corruption investigation involving his former boss.
Read alsoChina: Chinese army officials invited to “purify their social circle”
Will the new Minister of Defense have a free hand to bring order to the ranks of the army? Dong Jun will probably have to settle for a purely representative role. Because in reality, only the chairman of the Central Military Commission controls and commands the country’s armed forces – a role assumed by Chinese number 1 Xi Jinping.