- Analysts View Purge as Politically Motivated Ahead of Party Plenum.
- Defence Ministry Cites Serious Duty-Related Crimes Involving Huge Sums.
- Expulsion Marks Significant Achievement in CCP’s Anti-Corruption Drive.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has made headlines by expelling nine senior generals, marking one of the most significant military crackdowns in decades. According to a statement from China’s defence ministry, these nine individuals are suspected of serious financial misconduct. Most of them held the rank of three-star general and were influential members of the party’s powerful Central Committee. They’ve also lost their military positions, reports BBC.
Possible Political Motives Behind the Move
While the official statement presents these expulsions as part of an ongoing anti-corruption campaign, analysts believe it could also signal a wider political purge. The timing is particularly noteworthy, as it comes just ahead of the party’s plenum, where the Central Committee is expected to discuss China’s economic development strategy and vote in new members.
List of Expelled Officials
The nine senior officials who were expelled include:
- He Weidong – Vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC)
- Miao Hua – Director of the CMC’s Political Work Department
- He Hongjun – Executive Deputy Director of the CMC’s Political Work Department
- Wang Xiubin – Executive Deputy Director of the CMC’s Joint Operations Command Centre
- Lin Xiangyang – Eastern Theatre Commander
- Qin Shutong – Army’s Political Commissar
- Yuan Huazhi – Navy’s Political Commissar
- Wang Houbin – Rocket Forces Commander
- Wang Chunning – Armed Police Force Commander
Spotlight on He Weidong
Among those expelled, He Weidong is particularly notable. He was the second-highest-ranking officer in China’s military, reporting directly to President Xi Jinping, who chairs the CMC. He was last seen in public back in March, and his extended absence had already led to speculation that he was under investigation as part of the ongoing purge of high-ranking military officials. As a member of the Politburo, the CCP’s top decision-making body, He is also the first serving Politburo member to face investigation.
Official Statement and Charges
The defence ministry stated that the nine officials had “seriously violated party discipline and were suspected of serious duty-related crimes involving an extremely large amount of money, of extremely serious nature, and with extremely detrimental consequences.”
The ministry added that the men will face military prosecution and called the move a “significant achievement in the party and military’s anti-corruption campaign.”
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Source: BBC
