He Weidong and Miao Hua Removed Ahead of Key Leadership Meeting
China has expelled two top generals from both the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the Communist Party as part of a widening anti-corruption campaign. The move comes just days before a critical leadership session in Beijing, where China’s long-term economic and strategic direction will be set.
The expelled officials include He Weidong, former Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), and Miao Hua, ex-chief of the CMC’s Political Work Department. According to Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang, He Weidong was removed for “serious violations of discipline.” His absence from public view since March had already raised suspicions.
Miao Hua had previously been stripped of his duties earlier this year. Their expulsions are part of a broader investigation targeting nine senior military figures, eight of whom have also lost their party memberships.
Xi Jinping’s Anti-Corruption Drive Targets Military Again
This latest purge is another chapter in President Xi Jinping’s decade-long anti-corruption campaign, which has already removed hundreds of officials across the party, government, and armed forces. Xi has repeatedly warned that corruption poses the “greatest threat” to the Communist Party’s survival.
While many inside China support the campaign as a push for cleaner governance, international observers and critics argue it also serves to consolidate Xi’s power by removing political rivals from key positions.
Defense officials maintain that the crackdown has made the PLA more unified and combat-ready. Zhang stated, “The strict punishment of He Weidong, Miao Hua, and others shows the Party Central Committee’s firm determination to continue the fight against corruption.”
The announcement comes as China prepares for the Fourth Plenum, a major Communist Party meeting that will outline goals through 2030, focusing on technological self-reliance, defense upgrades, and economic resilience.
