China has expelled two top generals from the military and Communist Party amid a corruption probe involving nine senior officers, continuing President Xi Jinping’s decade-long anti-graft campaign targeting officials across the party, government, and armed forces.
The announcement comes just days before a major four-day leadership meeting in Beijing, where officials are expected to discuss long-term economic and strategic priorities. Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang confirmed that He Weidong, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), was dismissed for “serious violations of discipline” and has not been seen publicly since March. Miao Hua, former head of the CMC’s Political Work Department, was also expelled, having been removed from his post earlier this year. Eight of the nine implicated officers have additionally been stripped of their Communist Party memberships.
Xi has described corruption as “the greatest threat” to the party’s survival, emphasizing that rooting out graft is “grave and complex.” While supporters praise the campaign for promoting cleaner governance, critics argue it also consolidates Xi’s power by sidelining political rivals within the party and military. Officials say the crackdown strengthens the People’s Liberation Army, ensuring it remains “unified and combat-ready.”
This purge follows previous high-profile removals, including former Defence Minister Li Shangfu in 2023, and coincides with preparations for the Fourth Plenum, which will outline China’s economic and defense strategy through 2030.
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