China says top military official Miao Hua suspended, under investigation

A top Chinese military official has been dismissed while an investigation into "serious violations of discipline" takes place, Beijing said on Nov 28, the latest senior figure to fall in a sweeping crackdown on graft in the country's armed forces.

The ruling Chinese Communist Party "has decided to suspend Miao Hua from duty pending investigation", Mr Wu Qian, a spokesman for China's Ministry of Defence, told a press briefing.

Mr Wu did not provide further details about the charges against Admiral Miao, a member of Beijing's powerful Central Military Commission (CMC).

But "serious violations of discipline" are commonly used by officials in China as a euphemism for corruption.

Adm Miao sat on the CMC alongside five other men, including President Xi Jinping at the top.

He headed the CMC's Political Work Department, the top military body's most important office.

Adm Miao has been described as a "close ally" of Mr Xi and a "trusted interlocutor" between the military and the party by Mr Lyle Morris, a senior fellow at the Asia Society.