China expelled two of its top military generals in a Major Anti-Corruption Purge under President Xi Jinping

In a dramatic statement marking the escalation of China’s sustained anti-corruption campaign, two high-ranking military officials — He Weidong and Miao Hua — have been dismissed from both the military and the Communist Party. The move, made by the Defense Ministry, follows a broadening investigation into corruption charges involving nine top-ranking officers.

The expulsions mark another defining moment in President Xi Jinping’s decade-long crusade against graft — a campaign he has described as essential for the Communist Party’s survival. Xi’s initiative, which began shortly after he took power in 2012, has reached every corner of China’s political and military establishment, targeting “tigers and flies” alike — both senior and lower-level officials.

A Crackdown on Power and Privilege

He Weidong, the Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), was removed for “serious violations of discipline,” according to Defense Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang. He has not been seen in public since March, and this generated rumors regarding his fate. His vanishing act from view suggested disciplinary action was on the horizon.

Also dismissed from his position was Miao Hua, the ex-chief of the CMC’s Political Work Department, who was already deprived of his responsibilities earlier this year. The ministry affirmed that eight of the nine officers in question have been expelled from the Communist Party, adding weight to the campaign’s stern tone.

“Punishing He Weidong strictly and Miao Hua, among others, demonstrates the firm determination of the Party Central Committee to persist in the struggle against corruption,” Zhang stated. It has also enhanced efforts to establish a “more unified and combat-capable People’s Liberation Army,” he added.

Timing and Political Implications

The move comes just days ahead of a key four-day leadership gathering in Beijing, at which China’s senior leaders will discuss long-term economic and strategic objectives. The timing has caused observers to see the expulsions as a deliberate action by Xi to assert his preeminence ahead of important policy choices being made.

While supporters hail Xi’s campaign as vital for restoring discipline and integrity, critics argue it has also become a tool for consolidating power, sidelining potential rivals, and tightening his grip on the Communist Party and military leadership.

Under Xi’s watch, numerous senior officials — including former Defence Minister Li Shangfu, who was ousted in 2023 after only seven months in office — have been dismissed over corruption allegations. Each removal underscores Xi’s resolve to maintain absolute loyalty within China’s most powerful institutions.

A Message to the Military and Beyond

Xi has, on numerous occasions, cautioned that corruption constitutes “the greatest threat” to the survival of the Communist Party. The ousting of senior generals sends a sharp message to the military establishment that **no one is immune to scrutiny.

The anti-corruption campaign, now entering its second decade, reflects both Xi’s political strength and the internal fragility of the Chinese system. As the country faces mounting economic and geopolitical pressures, the leadership is determined to project unity and discipline within its ranks.

For the Chinese military, the message is straight: allegiance to the Party and to Xi personally is an absolute requirement. The purging of He Weidong and Miao Hua could merely be the next installment in a campaign that does not look like slowing up anytime soon.

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