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Beijing, October 17, 2025 – In a dramatic escalation of China's long-running anti-corruption campaign within its military ranks, Beijing announced on Friday the expulsion of two more high-profile members from the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), leaving the body – which oversees the world's largest standing army – with just four members, including President Xi Jinping as its chairman. The move, detailed in a terse statement from the Defense Ministry, caps a week of revelations that have shocked observers and signaled deepening turmoil at the apex of China's defense establishment.
The expulsions target Gen. He Weidong, the CMC's vice chairman and a member of the 24-person Politburo, China's elite ruling body, and Adm. Miao Hua, a key figure in the commission's political oversight apparatus. According to Senior Col. Zhang Xiaogang, the Defense Ministry spokesman, both officers have been stripped of their Communist Party membership and handed over to military prosecutors for criminal investigation. This brings the total number of punished generals to nine, all dismissed from their military posts as part of a broader probe into governance failures and procurement scandals that have ensnared billions of yuan.
"This severe punishment once again demonstrates the Party Central Committee and the Central Military Commission's unwavering resolve to persevere in the fight against corruption," Col. Zhang said in a briefing. "It underscores their commitment to leaving no place for corrupt elements to hide in the military, no matter how high their rank."
The timing could not be more critical. The announcements come just three days before the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) Central Committee convenes for a week of closed-door plenary sessions in Beijing, where top leaders are expected to discuss personnel reshuffles, economic policies, and military reforms ahead of the party's 21st National Congress in 2027. Analysts view the purge as a preemptive strike by Xi to consolidate control and purge potential rivals from the military's upper echelons, ensuring loyalty as geopolitical tensions simmer with the United States over Taiwan and the South China Sea.
A Shrunken Commission: From 13 to 4 Members
Historically, the CMC comprises Chairman Xi Jinping, two vice chairmen, and six ordinary members – a total of nine full-time positions, though it has occasionally expanded to 13 with additional advisors. Friday's developments have gutted this structure. With He Weidong's removal, the vice chairmanship now rests solely with Gen. Zhang Youxia, a Xi loyalist and son of a revolutionary veteran. The remaining ordinary members are Gen. Zhang Shengmin, head of the CMC's Discipline Inspection Commission, and Gen. Liu Zhenli, chief of the Joint Staff Department.
Notably absent is Adm. Dong Jun, who succeeded the disgraced Gen. Li Shangfu as defense minister last year. Unlike his predecessors, Dong was never elevated to the CMC, a snub that now appears prescient amid the crackdown. Li Shangfu himself was ousted from the commission in October 2024 after vanishing from public view; he was later expelled from the party and investigated for corruption tied to equipment procurement deals worth hundreds of millions.
Gen. He's downfall marks a historic milestone: He is the first sitting Politburo member to face a graft probe since Xi's 2012 ascension. A battle-hardened officer who rose through the PLA's Ground Force, He, 65, had been a fixture at Xi's side, accompanying him on inspections of troops in Xinjiang and the Taiwan Strait. Yet he hasn't been seen publicly since March 2025, fueling speculation of his detention. Adm. Miao, 65, directed the CMC's Political Work Department, a role akin to the military's ideological enforcer. A navy veteran, he last appeared in October 2024 at Xinjiang's 70th anniversary events before fading from view. Miao was formally removed from the CMC in June but only now faces party expulsion.
The other seven generals expelled this week include:
He Hongjun, former executive deputy director of the CMC Political Work Department, accused of embezzling funds for personnel promotions.
Wang Xiubin, ex-executive deputy director of the CMC Joint Operations Command Center, implicated in falsifying operational readiness reports.
Lin Xiangyang, former commander of the PLA Eastern Theater Command, overseeing Taiwan contingencies; probed for kickbacks on missile contracts.
Qin Shutong, ex-political commissar of the PLA Army, linked to lavish spending on officer perks.
Yuan Huazhi, former PLA Navy political commissar, suspected of steering shipbuilding deals to cronies.
Wang Houbin, ex-commander of the PLA Rocket Force, at the center of a 2023 scandal involving missile silo corruption.
Wang Chunning, former commander of the People's Armed Police (PAP), investigated for misuse of force-deployment budgets.
Col. Zhang's statement described the offenses as involving "an extremely large amount of money, of an extremely serious nature and with extremely detrimental consequences." Details remain scarce, but sources familiar with the probes – speaking on condition of anonymity – estimate the total graft at over 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion), including bribes, falsified invoices, and offshore accounts in Hong Kong and Singapore.
Xi's Anti-Corruption Blitz: A Weapon and a Warning
Since launching his signature anti-corruption drive in 2012, Xi has disciplined over 4.8 million officials, including 102 generals and admirals. The military has been a prime target, with the Rocket Force – guardian of China's nuclear arsenal – hit hardest. Last year's purge there led to the dismissal of its top two commanders and the grounding of missile brigades for audits.
Experts like Dr. Oriana Skylar Mastro of Stanford University argue the campaign serves dual purposes: rooting out rot and eliminating threats. "Xi's CMC is now a personal fiefdom," Mastro said in an interview. "By hollowing it out to four members, he's minimized intrigue ahead of the plenum. But it risks paralysis – who approves deployments to the South China Sea now?"
The purges coincide with military modernization woes. A 2024 U.S. Defense Department report alleged that corruption has delayed PLA hypersonic weapons and carrier programs by years, with faulty equipment deployed to frontline units. Beijing dismissed the claims as "slander," but Friday's statement admitted "serious violations in military governance and procurement," vowing "zero tolerance."
Broader Implications for CCP Plenum and Global Security
As the Central Committee gathers Monday, all eyes are on potential CMC appointments. State media hinted at promotions for younger officers like Lt. Gen. Wu Yanan, a Rocket Force reformer, and Vice Adm. Li Hanjun, a submarine expert. Xi, 72, is expected to use the session to enshrine "absolute loyalty" in party statutes, per insiders.
Internationally, the shakeup unnerves allies and adversaries alike. Taiwan's defense ministry reported increased PLA incursions last week, possibly testing command chains. In Washington, Pentagon officials told Reuters the purges "create windows of vulnerability" for U.S. forces in the Indo-Pacific. NATO echoed concerns, noting China's military spending hit $296 billion in 2025, up 7.2% from last year.
Domestically, the news bolsters Xi's image as an incorruptible strongman. Weibo, China's Twitter equivalent, buzzed with patriotic posts: "Long live Chairman Xi's iron fist!" Yet censors scrubbed queries about "empty CMC," hinting at unease over command gaps.
Historical Context: Echoes of Past Purges
This isn't Beijing's first military reckoning. Mao Zedong's 1960s Cultural Revolution decimated PLA leadership; Deng Xiaoping's 1980s reforms ousted 23 generals. Xi's campaign dwarfs them, claiming 58 top officers since 2017. A 2023 Central Party School study credited it with boosting troop morale, though desertion rates in Xinjiang rose 15% amid probes, per leaked internal reports.
Critics, including exiled dissident Cai Xia, call it "Stalinist theater" to mask policy failures like the 2024 economy slowdown. "Corruption thrives because the system rewards loyalty over competence," Cai wrote from the U.S.
Looking Ahead: Reforms or Repression?
The Defense Ministry pledged "systemic reforms" post-plenum, including AI audits for procurement and Politburo vetting for all flag officers. Col. Zhang promised transparency: "The people will see a purer, stronger PLA."
Yet with the CMC at half-strength, questions linger. Can Xi rebuild trust before 2027? Will Dong Jun gain a seat, or face scrutiny? As Beijing's red flags flutter over the Great Hall of the People, one thing is clear: Xi's purge has redrawn the battle lines – not against foreign foes, but within his own ranks.
