China’s ruling Communist Party has expelled nine senior generals in one of the largest and most public crackdowns on military leadership in decades, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of National Defense. The officers—many holding three-star ranks and senior positions within the Central Committee—are accused of serious corruption and have also been stripped of their military titles.
The purge comes just days before the Fourth Plenum of the Central Committee, where top leaders are expected to debate China’s long-term economic strategy and install new party members. Analysts say the timing underscores President Xi Jinping’s drive to consolidate control over the military while signaling internal tensions at the highest levels of power.
Who Was Removed
Among the nine expelled are several of China’s most influential commanders:
- He Weidong – Vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC)
- Miao Hua – Director, CMC Political Work Department
- He Hongjun – Executive Deputy Director, CMC Political Work Department
- Wang Xiubin – Executive Deputy Director, CMC Joint Operations Command Centre
- Lin Xiangyang – Eastern Theatre Commander
- Qin Shutong – Political Commissar, People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Ground Forces
- Yuan Huazhi – Political Commissar, PLA Navy
- Wang Houbin – Commander, PLA Rocket Force
- Wang Chunning – Commander, People’s Armed Police
Of these, He Weidong is the most prominent figure. As the CMC’s second-in-command and a Politburo member, he is the highest-ranking officer to fall under investigation in years and the first sitting Politburo official to be targeted in a corruption probe. His disappearance from public view earlier in 2024 had already sparked speculation about his fate.
Anti-Corruption Campaign or Political Purge?
In its statement, the Defense Ministry accused the nine officers of “serious violations of party discipline” and crimes involving “an extremely large amount of money” with “extremely detrimental consequences.” They now face prosecution under the military justice system.
The purge follows a series of high-profile removals, including two former defense ministers and several commanders of the PLA Rocket Force, the branch responsible for China’s nuclear and missile strategy. Civilian officials have also been caught in the widening dragnet, such as former foreign minister Qin Gang, who vanished from his post in 2023.
While the government insists the expulsions are part of a sweeping anti-corruption campaign, political observers see deeper motives. Xi Jinping has long framed internal discipline as essential to building a loyal, unified military capable of supporting China’s rise and safeguarding the Communist Party’s rule. But critics note that such purges also neutralize political rivals and tighten Xi’s personal grip over the armed forces.
“Xi wants a clean and obedient military that will follow orders without question,” said Neil Thomas, a fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute. “But heavy-handed purges can weaken initiative and make the system more brittle and risk-averse.”
What Comes Next
Attention is now turning to the upcoming plenum, which begins 20 October. Analysts will closely watch attendance lists and seating arrangements—subtle signals often used in Chinese elite politics to gauge who has fallen out of favor and who is rising.
If large numbers of senior officers are missing from the proceedings, experts say, it will be the clearest public indication yet of how deep Xi’s latest purge extends inside the People’s Liberation Army.
For now, the expulsions mark one of the boldest and most far-reaching moves in Xi’s decade-long effort to reassert Party control over the military, reinforcing both the strength—and the paranoia—at the core of China’s current leadership.
