China | No defence

How to provoke the fury of Xi Jinping

Two former generals are accused of betraying the Communist Party

Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu
He might have to change uniformsPhotograph: AP
|BEIJING

FOR SENIOR Chinese officials charged with wrongdoing, the road to justice is often long and winding. The first step is usually detention, interrogation and an internal investigation conducted quietly by the disciplinary arm of the Communist Party. This triggers frantic but uninformed chatter about the official’s disappearance. Weeks or months later, state-controlled media confirm that he or she has been removed from their post and is under investigation. Some time after that it is announced that the official has been stripped of party membership. The matter then gets turned over to the justice system.

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This article appeared in the China section of the print edition under the headline “No defence”

From the July 6th 2024 edition

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