What's happened
China has expelled nine senior military officials, including Vice-Chairman He Weidong, amid a broad anti-corruption campaign. The move targets China’s top military leadership, with accusations of serious misconduct involving large sums of money. The purge aligns with Xi Jinping’s efforts to consolidate power and strengthen military discipline.
What's behind the headline?
The purge signals a decisive effort by Xi Jinping to tighten control over the military, emphasizing loyalty and discipline amid rising geopolitical tensions. The removal of high-ranking officers, especially those involved in corruption and disloyalty, will likely strengthen Xi’s grip on the PLA and reduce internal dissent. This move also serves to project strength domestically and internationally, showcasing a unified, disciplined military. However, it risks creating instability within the military leadership and may provoke resistance from factions loyal to the expelled officials. The timing suggests a strategic move to consolidate power before the upcoming party plenum, reinforcing Xi’s authority and signaling zero tolerance for corruption and disloyalty in the military. The ongoing anti-corruption campaign will likely continue to reshape the military’s leadership structure, with potential long-term impacts on China’s military modernization and strategic posture.
What the papers say
The South China Morning Post reports that the purge includes the expulsion of nine generals, including He Weidong, and highlights the ongoing anti-corruption drive aimed at consolidating Xi Jinping’s control over the PLA. Bloomberg emphasizes that the purge is part of a broader effort to challenge the traditional system where the CMC chairman holds ultimate responsibility, with Xi seeking to centralize authority. Al Jazeera notes that He Weidong's removal is unprecedented for a sitting CMC vice-chair and underscores the campaign’s significance in targeting the highest levels of military leadership. The Independent and AP News both confirm that the officials involved are accused of serious crimes involving large sums of money, with the purge occurring just before the Fourth Plenum, indicating a strategic move to reinforce party unity and control over the military. The articles collectively portray a campaign that is both a political purge and a strategic realignment, with Xi Jinping’s leadership at the core of these developments.
How we got here
The recent purge follows years of Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign, which has targeted high-ranking officials across the Chinese government and military. The campaign aims to reinforce loyalty, discipline, and political control within the PLA, especially ahead of key political meetings like the upcoming Fourth Plenum. The targeted officials include those suspected of serious crimes involving large sums of money and disloyalty, reflecting a broader effort to eliminate political risks and consolidate Xi’s authority.
Go deeper
Common question
-
Why Did China Purge Top Military Leaders Now?
China's recent purge of its top military officials has raised many questions. Why now, after years of stability, is Beijing cracking down on its military leadership? What does this mean for China's future military strategy and political stability? In this page, we explore the reasons behind the purge, its implications for China and the world, and what might happen next.
More on these topics
-
He Weidong is a general of the People's Liberation Army who served as the Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party and member of the 20th Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party from October 2022 until his removal i
-
Xi Jinping is a Chinese politician serving as the general secretary of the Communist Party of China, president of the People's Republic of China, and chairman of the Central Military Commission.
-
Miao Hua is an admiral of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy. He has served as director of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission since October 2017.
-
Li Shangfu is a Chinese aerospace engineer and general of the People's Liberation Army. Li is currently a State Councilor of the People's Republic of China and the Minister of National Defence since March 2023.
-
Wei Fenghe is a general in the Chinese People's Liberation Army who served as Commander of the PLA Rocket Force, formerly known as the Second Artillery Corps.
-
Zhang Xiaogang is a contemporary Chinese symbolist and surrealist painter. Paintings in his Bloodline series are predominantly monochromatic, stylized portraits of Chinese people, usually with large, dark-pupiled eyes, posed in a stiff manner deliberately
-
The Communist Party of China (CPC), commonly known as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is the founding and ruling party of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Founded in 1921, the CCP won the Chinese Civil War against the Kuomintang and proclaimed...