Tan Ruisong, former chairman of Aviation Industry Corporation of China, has been expelled from the Communist Party for corruption, marking a significant development in China's military-industrial anti-graft campaign.
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| The expulsion of Tan Ruisong from the Communist Party highlights China’s ongoing crackdown on corruption within the military-industrial complex, a significant part of the nation’s anti-graft campaign. Image: FL360aero |
Beijing, China — February 24, 2025:
Tan Ruisong, the former chairman of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), has been expelled from the Communist Party for engaging in large-scale corruption, marking another key development in China’s wide-reaching anti-graft efforts. The expulsion comes as part of an ongoing purge targeting officials across the country’s military-industrial sector, underscoring President Xi Jinping’s determination to root out corruption, reads a Macau Business report.
Tan’s actions were condemned by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, which accused him of accepting bribes and exploiting his position for personal gain. The disciplinary body’s statement detailed a long list of violations, including accepting lavish banquets, engaging in power-for-sex transactions, and improperly using his authority to benefit others in enterprise restructuring and project contracting.
This expulsion follows a series of similar actions within China’s military in recent years. In the past two years alone, 14 military delegates were removed from China’s national legislative body, including four generals, eight lieutenant generals, and two major generals. These expulsions are part of a broader crackdown on corruption within China’s armed forces, which has seen an unprecedented number of high-ranking officials ousted.
Tan’s case is also connected to a larger wave of purges within China’s aerospace and defense sectors. Just months ago, two former defense ministers, Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe, were expelled for corruption related to the procurement of military equipment. Analysts have pointed out that many of those removed from their positions have strong ties to the elite PLA Rocket Force, which oversees China’s most advanced missile capabilities.
Tan’s expulsion, coming at a time when the country is focusing heavily on military modernization, could present challenges for Xi’s long-term plans. Exposing and addressing the deep-rooted corruption within China’s military-industrial complex may slow progress, but experts argue that Xi’s purge is vital for ensuring the integrity and efficiency of the military moving forward.
Tan’s case has now been referred to prosecutors for further investigation, but Reuters was unable to reach Tan for comment, and AVIC did not respond to requests for a statement. Despite this, the disciplinary actions signal China’s unwavering commitment to tackling corruption at all levels of government and industry.