In 2024, President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign set a new record, with 56 high-ranking officials, all at vice-ministerial level or above, being investigated. This is a nearly 25% increase from the 45 senior officials investigated in 2023, the South China Morning Post reported.
These investigations are being led by China’s top anti-corruption watchdog, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI).
The scope of the campaign is expanding, with corruption cases in top party organs and ministries expected to double by 2024. There were also notable increases in the aviation and defense industries. However, corruption cases in the financial sector, a key focus in 2023, have decreased. Four state bank executives were investigated this year, compared to eight last year.
Increased oversight of central institutions
Of the 56 officials detained this year, 12 hold positions in the Communist Party central government or state organs, with the number expected to double in 2023. This indicates an increasing emphasis on targeting corruption at the upper echelons of party organs and ministries.
Since launching his anti-corruption campaign in 2012, Mr. Xi has pursued a relentless campaign to eradicate both high-level “tigers” and low-level “flies.” The military, particularly the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, which is responsible for overseeing China’s nuclear arsenal, is the focus of this effort.
Challenges within the People’s Liberation Army
Corruption within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) continues to pose a significant challenge to Xi Jinping’s rule in China. These problems are more than just a financial burden for Mr. Xi. These undermine the effectiveness of China’s military at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions. Mr. Xi’s vision of turning the People’s Liberation Army into a global military power depends on addressing these internal vulnerabilities.
Critics say Mr. Xi’s consolidation of power could worsen corruption, as the centralization of power and lack of institutional checks allows for widespread fraud. The opaque nature of China’s political and military system further complicates efforts to measure the extent of corruption and its impact on military performance.
The anti-corruption purge is reshaping the balance of power within the People’s Liberation Army and the broader Communist Party. Even senior supporters are not immune, as investigations of high-profile figures such as Miao Hua, a key figure in the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, have proven.
