China has expelled two of its highest-ranking generals, He Weidong and Miao Hua, as part of a sweeping anti-corruption campaign that continues to reshape the country’s military and political elite. The move comes just days before a major Communist Party meeting in Beijing focused on long-term economic strategy.
According to a statement released Friday, October 17, by defence ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang, He Weidong, vice chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), was among nine senior military officials dismissed for “seriously violating discipline.” He had not been seen in public since March, sparking speculation about his fate. Zhang did not disclose He’s current whereabouts.
Also expelled was Miao Hua, the former head of the military’s political work department. State media confirmed that Miao had already been formally removed from his post in June. Eight of the nine officials were also stripped of their Communist Party membership, having previously served on its elite Central Committee.
Zhang said the expulsions were further proof of the leadership’s determination to fight corruption:
“The severe punishment of He Weidong, Miao Hua, and others once again demonstrates the Party Central Committee and the CMC’s unwavering resolve to persevere in the fight against corruption,” he declared.
He added that the latest crackdown represents a “significant achievement” in the ongoing anti-graft campaign, which he said has “contributed to a more pure, consolidated, cohesive and combat-ready People’s Army.”
President Xi Jinping has made eliminating corruption a defining feature of his rule since taking power in 2012, describing graft as “the biggest threat to the Communist Party.” While supporters say the campaign has strengthened party discipline and accountability, critics argue it has also served as a means to consolidate Xi’s personal control and eliminate political rivals.
The military has been a particular focus of the anti-corruption drive. In 2023, former defence minister Li Shangfu was abruptly removed just seven months into his tenure and later expelled from the party for alleged bribery and “disciplinary violations.”
The timing of the latest expulsions is notable. They come ahead of the fourth plenum, a four-day high-level meeting beginning Monday that will focus on economic and strategic planning for the five-year period leading up to 2030. The session is expected to highlight Xi’s priorities, particularly technological self-sufficiency, military modernization, and economic resilience, as China faces growing external pressure and internal slowdown.
Zhang concluded that the latest purge reinforces the leadership’s message that no one, regardless of rank, is above party discipline or accountability.
