China has suspended Admiral Miao Hua, a key member of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and close ally of Xi Jinping, for corruption, marking the latest development in Xi’s anti-corruption campaign targeting the military.

Miao, 69, heads the CMC’s Political Work Department and is under investigation for “serious violations of discipline.”

This follows recent purges of senior military leaders, including former defense ministers Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe, as Xi seeks to modernize and strengthen the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), CNN has reported.

Over a dozen top military and aerospace officials have been removed since last summer, with a focus on the elite Rocket Force overseeing China’s missile arsenal.

Written by B.C. Begley