Kathmandu, Jul 23: China’s ruling Communist Party is intensifying its crackdown on corruption within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Force, which oversees the nation’s nuclear arsenal. Recently, an investigation has been ordered against General Sun Jinming, the current Chief of Staff of the Rocket Force, resulting in his removal from the post on Thursday.

This anti-corruption drive has seen the dismissal of several high-ranking officials. Former Defense Minister General Li Shangfu and his successor, General Li Yuchao, were both removed from their positions following corruption charges. Li Shangfu, who previously headed the Rocket Force before becoming defense minister, is currently under investigation for corruption. Similarly, General Li Yuchao, a member of this strategic force, was also implicated.

The Rocket Force has become a focal point of the Communist Party’s anti-corruption campaign within the military. During the party meeting that led to the removal of Shangfu and Yuchao, it was also decided to investigate General Sun Jinming. Subsequently, General Sun was expelled from the party, as announced in a press release on the final day of the party’s third convention.

Sun Jinming, who became the Chief of Staff of the PLA Rocket Force in 2022, was a member of the party’s 20th Central Committee until his recent expulsion. He has had a long tenure with the 2nd Artillery Corps, which transformed into the Rocket Force in 2015 as part of President Xi Jinping’s military modernization efforts. Despite these efforts, the Rocket Force has seen a surge in corruption cases in recent years, prompting this stringent anti-corruption campaign.