China Ousts Top Generals in Major Military Purge Ahead of Party Summit
In one of the biggest public military shake-ups in decades, China has expelled nine top generals from both the Communist Party and the armed forces, just days before a major political meeting in Beijing.
Among those removed are He Weidong, the vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and the second-highest-ranking officer in China's military after President Xi Jinping, and Miao Hua, the former top political officer of the Chinese military. The others include high-ranking leaders from the Rocket Force, Navy, Army, and Armed Police.
All nine have been accused of “serious violations of party discipline” and are suspected of massive financial crimes. According to the Defence Ministry, their actions involved “extremely large amounts of money” and had “extremely detrimental consequences.” The officials now face military prosecution.
This wave of expulsions is the latest move in Xi Jinping’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign, which has intensified in recent years. However, many analysts suggest there’s more at play than just corruption. With the Fourth Plenum—a high-level party meeting—set to begin on October 20th, the timing suggests a political purge may be underway.
He Weidong had not been seen publicly since March, sparking months of speculation. His absence was particularly notable given his seniority—he was not only Xi's second-in-command in the military but also a member of the Politburo, China’s top 24-person ruling body. His fall marks the first time a sitting Politburo member has been investigated since 2017. Meanwhile, Miao Hua had already been quietly removed from his CMC position in June, following an investigation that began in late 2023.
Other expelled generals include:
- He Hongjun – CMC political work deputy
- Wang Xiubin – Joint operations command center deputy
- Lin Xiangyang – Former Eastern Theatre commander
- Qin Shutong – Army political commissar
- Yuan Huazhi – Navy political commissar
- Wang Houbin – Rocket Force commander
- Wang Chunning – Armed Police commander
The announcement is being seen by experts as a show of strength by Xi Jinping, who continues to push for absolute loyalty within both the party and the military. According to Neil Thomas, a fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute, Xi views these purges as part of the party’s “self-revolution” — a way to create a “clean, disciplined, and effective organisation capable of ruling indefinitely.”
But there's a catch. As Thomas explains, “This is the price of Xi's power: the system gets cleaner and more obedient, but also more cautious—and at times, more brittle.”
The backdrop to these removals is especially important. The military had already seen recent upheaval, with earlier dismissals of two former defence ministers and a number of senior Rocket Force officers. Xi reportedly believed corruption in the Rocket Force had compromised missile capabilities—something that’s deeply concerning for a leader positioning China as a rising global power.
Observers are now waiting to see who shows up at the Fourth Plenum. A noticeably thinner attendance could signal just how widespread the purge really is. As Thomas noted, “If attendance plunges, it's the clearest public signal yet of how extensive the purges have been.”
This wave of expulsions shows Xi is tightening his grip at every level of power—from the missile command to the Politburo—and he’s not done yet.
