This development emerges just days ahead of the Communist Party’s Central Committee convening in Beijing.
China’s Defence Ministry has announced the expulsion of two top military leaders along with seven other senior officers from both the Communist Party and the armed forces, citing serious allegations of corruption and misconduct.
Among those dismissed are General He Weidong, the nation’s second-highest military official, and Admiral Miao Hua, who formerly served as the military’s chief political officer. Their removal marks the latest phase in an ongoing crackdown on corruption within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
General He’s dismissal is particularly notable as it represents the first time since the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) that a sitting Central Military Commission commander has been ousted.
He had not appeared publicly since March, and the investigation into his conduct had remained confidential until this announcement.
The official statement released on Friday accused General He, Admiral Miao, and the other seven senior officers of “severe breaches of Party discipline” and involvement in “serious duty-related crimes involving vast sums of money.”
Defence Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang described the offenses as “extremely serious with profoundly damaging effects,” praising the purge as a “major milestone in the Party and military’s anti-corruption efforts.”
At 68 years old, General He’s expulsion carries weight beyond military circles, as he was also a member of the 24-person Politburo, the Communist Party’s second-highest decision-making body.
Serving as one of the two vice-chairmen of the Central Military Commission, He ranked as the third most influential figure in the PLA and was widely regarded as a close ally of President Xi Jinping, who commands the military.
Admiral Miao had already been removed from the commission in June after an investigation into “serious disciplinary violations” was launched against him.
This announcement precedes the upcoming Fourth Plenum of the Communist Party’s Central Committee, a gathering of over 200 senior officials scheduled to begin in Beijing on Monday.
It is anticipated that further personnel changes, including the formal expulsion and replacement of Central Committee members, will be confirmed during this session.
Other military figures implicated alongside He and Miao include He Hongjun, a former senior official in the PLA Political Work Department; Wang Xiubin from the Central Military Commission’s Joint Operations Command Centre; Lin Xiangyang, ex-commander of the Eastern Theatre Command; and two former political commissars from the PLA Army and Navy.
Observers have noted that many of these individuals have been absent from public view for several months, fueling speculation about internal disciplinary actions.
Additionally, former People’s Armed Police commander Wang Chunning, who was recently removed from the national legislature along with three other PLA generals, was named in the statement.
Ja Ian Chong, an associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore, commented that such leadership upheavals in China’s military have become increasingly routine.
“This pattern of leadership changes has normalized over time,” Chong explained. “It reflects the ongoing evolution of Xi Jinping’s governance.”
He added, “These moves can also be interpreted as Xi Jinping further consolidating his authority, indicating a trend toward greater centralization and tighter control over the Party’s structures than ever before.”
