China Expels Nine Top Generals in Sweeping Military Purge Ahead of Key Party Meeting
- Rahaman Hadisur
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff
H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Asia
In one of the largest public military crackdowns in decades, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has expelled nine top generals, accusing them of serious financial misconduct and violations of party discipline. The move comes just days before a key Central Committee plenum, where leaders will discuss China’s long-term economic strategy and fill new political appointments.
According to a statement from China’s defence ministry, the generals “seriously violated party discipline and were suspected of duty-related crimes involving an extremely large amount of money.” They have also been stripped of their military ranks and now face prosecution.
Among those expelled is He Weidong, the vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and the country’s second-highest-ranking military officer after President Xi Jinping. His disappearance from public view since March had already sparked speculation of an investigation. Other senior figures include Miao Hua, He Hongjun, and Wang Houbin, the latter serving as commander of China’s Rocket Forces.
While Beijing described the purge as part of an ongoing anti-corruption campaign, analysts say it also reflects Xi Jinping’s tightening political control over the military and government apparatus. “In Xi’s view, cutting out corrupt or disloyal cadres is the Party’s ‘self-revolution,’” said Neil Thomas of the Asia Society Policy Institute. “But this also makes governance more cautious and at times, more brittle.”
The CMC has been signaling an intensified crackdown for months, issuing new “iron rules” to eliminate “toxic influences” within the armed forces. The latest expulsions follow the earlier removals of defense ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, as well as the unexplained disappearances of several high-profile civilian officials.
Observers say the upcoming Fourth Plenum on October 20 will reveal the true extent of Xi’s reshuffle and how deeply his latest purge has reshaped China’s political and military elite.
