China has expelled two of its highest-ranking generals, He Weidong and Miao Hua, in an ongoing anti-corruption campaign that continues to reshape the country’s military and political landscape. The move comes just days before a major Communist Party meeting in Beijing focused on long-term economic planning.
According to a statement released Friday, October 17, by Defence Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang, He Weidong — vice chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC) — was among nine senior military officials dismissed for “seriously violating discipline.” He had not been seen in public since March, prompting speculation about his fate. Zhang did not reveal He’s current whereabouts.
Also expelled was Miao Hua, the former head of the military’s political work department. State media confirmed that Miao had been formally removed from his post in June. Eight of the nine officials were also stripped of their Communist Party membership, all of whom previously served on its elite Central Committee.
Zhang said the expulsions demonstrate the leadership’s firm commitment to rooting out corruption.
“The severe punishment of He Weidong, Miao Hua, and others once again shows the Party Central Committee and the CMC’s unwavering resolve to persevere in the fight against corruption,” he declared.
He added that the move marks a “significant achievement” in the anti-graft campaign, which he said has contributed to building a “more pure, consolidated, cohesive, and combat-ready People’s Army.”
Since coming to power in 2012, President Xi Jinping has made the anti-corruption drive a hallmark of his leadership, describing graft as “the biggest threat to the Communist Party.” Supporters argue the campaign has improved discipline and accountability, while critics contend it also helps Xi consolidate power and eliminate rivals.
The military has been a central target of the crackdown. In 2023, former defence minister Li Shangfu was removed just seven months into his term and later expelled from the party for alleged bribery and “disciplinary violations.”
The timing of these latest expulsions is significant, coming ahead of the fourth plenum — a four-day high-level meeting starting Monday — that will set economic and strategic priorities through 2030. The session is expected to emphasise Xi’s key goals, including technological self-reliance, military modernisation, and economic resilience amid rising external pressure and slowing domestic growth.
Zhang concluded that the purge sends a clear message: no one, regardless of status or position, is above party discipline or accountability.
