China has expelled two senior generals from both the military and the Communist Party amid a broader corruption investigation targeting nine high-ranking officers. This development represents the latest phase of President Xi Jinping’s extensive anti-corruption campaign, which has spanned a decade and focused on rooting out graft across the party, government, and armed forces.
The announcement came shortly before a major four-day leadership meeting in Beijing, where top officials are set to discuss China’s long-term economic and strategic plans. Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang revealed that He Weidong, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), was dismissed due to “serious violations of discipline.” He has not been seen in public since March, raising questions about his current status, with no details provided on his whereabouts. Miao Hua, the former head of the CMC’s Political Work Department, was also expelled after being removed from his position earlier in the year.
Zhang confirmed that eight of the nine officials involved have been stripped of their Communist Party memberships, reinforcing the campaign’s reach within China’s military hierarchy. President Xi has frequently warned that corruption poses “the greatest threat” to the party’s survival, describing the ongoing crackdown as both “grave and complex.” While many view the campaign as essential for promoting cleaner governance, critics argue it also consolidates Xi’s political power by weakening potential rivals in both the party and the military.
The Defense Ministry emphasized that the punishments reflect the Party Central Committee’s strong commitment to combating corruption, aiming to create a “more unified and combat-ready People’s Liberation Army.” This is part of a continuing pattern of purges under Xi, including the 2023 removal and expulsion of former Defence Minister Li Shangfu over bribery allegations.
These expulsions come as China prepares for the Fourth Plenum, a critical Communist Party session expected to define the country’s economic strategy through 2030, with a focus on technological self-reliance, defense modernization, and strengthening national economic resilience.
