BEIJING – China has announced that two of its most senior military figures, General He Weidong and Admiral Miao Hua, have been expelled from both the Chinese Communist Party and the People’s Liberation Army amid a sweeping anti-corruption drive. The move represents the highest-level purge in China’s military since 2023.
General He Weidong, who was serving as vice-chair of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and held a seat in the 24-member Politburo, is regarded as the second-most senior officer in the PLA. His removal marks the first instance in decades that an active CMC general has been purged.
He, along with Admiral Miao, were found responsible for “serious violations of Party discipline and law”, including large-scale financial misconduct, according to the Defence Ministry.
Miao Hua, formerly the PLA’s top political officer, had been under investigation since last year and was removed from his CMC post earlier in 2025. His case had earlier been referred to military disciplinary organs.
Alongside He Weidong and Miao Hua, authorities named seven other senior military officials said to be involved in the misconduct. All have been expelled and their cases passed to military prosecutors.
The accused are alleged to have committed offences with “extremely detrimental consequences” for discipline and operations.
Analysts see this as more than a crackdown on corruption. The timing, just ahead of the Fourth Plenum of the Communist Party’s Central Committee, suggests a reorganisation of military leadership and a consolidation of loyalty around President Xi Jinping.
General He Weidong had not appeared in public since March, stirring speculation before the formal announcement of his removal.
He was known for his operational roles, including leadership of the Eastern Theatre Command, a critical command given its focus on Taiwan.
Observers say the purge continues a trend under Xi’s leadership of rooting out graft in the armed forces, a key part of his broader goal to tighten Party control and ensure loyalty within the military ranks.
This purge may also affect China’s international posture: removing highly visible commanders tied to strategic areas could impact continuity in planning, particularly around Taiwan and in regional commands.
Domestically, the removal of officers closely associated with Xi’s inner circles underscores the high stakes of internal discipline and political survival.
