He Chinese Communist Party (CCP) confirmed this Thursday the expulsion of 14 senior officials, nine soldiers and five civilians, within the framework of the biggest anti-corruption purge since 2017according to the state agency Xinhua at the close of Fourth Plenary Session of the Central Committee in Beijing. The move coincided with the end of a key session dedicated to outlining the new five year plan economic development.
In that context, the Central Committee also decided promote General Zhang Shengmin in charge of vice president of the Central Military Commission (CMC)replacing He Weidongone of those expelled, accused of corruption.
The unprecedented purge in the Army and the Chinese Communist Party
The official statement indicated that eleven members of the Central Committee were expelled, which represents the largest painting renewal in a single session since 2017. Eight of the nine dismissed officers were part of the Central Committee, reflecting the political scope of the internal operation.
Among the removed soldiers stand out He Weidong, Miao Hua, Wang Xiubin, Lin Xiangyang, Qin Shutong, Yuan Huazhi, Wang Houbin, Wang Chunning and He Hongjun.
He Ministry of Defense reported that the accused “seriously violated Party discipline” and are suspected of “serious duty-related crimes involving an extremely large amount of money, extremely serious in nature and with extremely harmful consequences“All cases were referred to the Military Prosecutor’s Office for investigation and processing.
The dismissed senior managers
The most senior official affected is He Weidongformer vice president of the CMC and member of the Politburomade up of 24 leaders. He had not appeared in public since March and became the first serving military officer of the Politburo investigated for corruption and in the first active general expelled from the CMC since the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). Previously, he had commanded the Eastern Theater of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA)responsible for operations against Taiwan.
The second name of weight is Miao Huaadmiral and director of the CMC Political Work Departmentremoved in June after disappearing from the public scene in November 2024. He had last attended an official event in October of that year, during the anniversary of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.
Both soldiers belonged to the call “Fujian faction” of the EPL, a network of officers who coincided with Xi Jinping in that province between 1985 and 2002. Analysts indicated that the two rose rapidly during the term of the current Chinese leader.
They complete the list of expelled He Hongjun, Wang Xiubin, Lin Xiangyang, Qin Shutong, Yuan Huazhi, Wang Houbin and Wang Chunningwho held key positions in the political command, the Rocket Force and the Popular Armed Police.
In addition to the military leadership, the Party also expelled five civil servantssome of whose cases had not been revealed. It is about Tang Renjian, Jin Xiangjun, Li Shisong, Yang Fasen and Zhu Zhisongall members of the Central Committeealthough without detailed charges in official statements.
A new leadership and the consolidation of Xi Jinping’s power
The rise of the general Zhang Shengmin67 years old, reinforces the structure of political control within the army. Originally from the province of ShaanxiZhang developed his career in Second Artillery Forcetoday PLA Rocket Forceand also serves as deputy secretary of the Central Commission for Disciplinary InspectionChina’s main anti-corruption body.
He Weidong China
With these expulsions, the Central Military Commission was reduced to just four active membersincluding the president Xi Jinpingwhen it is normally made up of six plus the owner.
Since Xi assumed leadership of the CCP in 2012its policy of “zero tolerance for corruption” became one of the distinctive signs of his government. According to official data, more than six million civil servants were sanctioned for crimes or disciplinary offenses in the last decade.
The purge that combines political control and internal message in China
For analysts, the magnitude of the operation reveals both a message of internal authority as an attempt to debug military structures on the eve of a new cycle of power.
The expert Neil Thomasof the Asia Society Policy Institutehe explained to the agency AP that the purges seek reinforce the image of discipline and control of the Chinese president.
“In his opinion, eliminating corrupt or disloyal cadres is the ‘self-revolution’ of the Party to become a clean, disciplined and effective organization capable of governing indefinitely.“Thomas said.
With this new wave of dismissals, Xi Jinping further consolidated its leadership over the People’s Liberation Army and the Chinese Communist Partywhile sending a warning signal to those who challenge his authority within the regime.
Source: Ambito
