What's happened
China has expelled nine senior military officials, including Vice-Chairman He Weidong, amid a broad anti-corruption campaign. The purge targets China’s top military leadership, accusing them of serious misconduct involving large sums of money. The move aligns with Xi Jinping’s efforts to consolidate power and strengthen military discipline.
What's behind the headline?
The purge of nine senior military officials, including Vice-Chairman He Weidong, signals a decisive move by Xi Jinping to consolidate control over the PLA. The targeted officials, accused of serious misconduct involving large sums of money, represent a significant shift in military politics, emphasizing loyalty and discipline. This campaign is likely to continue, with the potential to reshape the military’s leadership structure. The timing, ahead of the upcoming Fourth Plenum, suggests an effort to project strength and unity within the party and military. The accusations of disloyalty and the emphasis on ideological purity indicate that Xi aims to eliminate any threats to his authority, especially as regional tensions with Taiwan and the US escalate. The purge also underscores the ongoing challenge of corruption within the military, which the party views as a threat to its control and the PLA’s readiness. Overall, these actions will likely lead to a more centralized, loyal military leadership aligned with Xi’s vision, but may also cause internal instability as old power bases are dismantled.
What the papers say
The South China Morning Post reports that the recent expulsions and investigations are part of Xi Jinping’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign, which aims to eliminate political risks and reinforce party control over the military. Bloomberg highlights that the purge targets officials who challenged the system of ultimate responsibility held by the CMC chairman, Xi Jinping, and notes the significance of the timing before the Fourth Plenum. Al Jazeera emphasizes that He Weidong’s removal is unprecedented for a sitting CMC commander since the Cultural Revolution, marking a historic shift. The Independent and AP News both confirm that the officials under investigation are accused of serious crimes involving large sums of money, with the expulsions being the most significant since Xi’s rise. These sources collectively portray a campaign that is both about rooting out corruption and consolidating Xi’s authority, with implications for military modernization and regional security.
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 eliminate political rivals, enforce loyalty, and modernize the military. The recent expulsions include key figures linked to past corruption scandals and are part of a broader effort to reinforce party control over the PLA amid rising regional tensions.
Go deeper
Common question
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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.
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