The 4th Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) closed on the 23rd, where a batch of senior military officers including Central Military Commission Vice Chairman He Weidong were officially announced to be under investigation. At the same time, Zhang Shengmin was appointed as a Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission. A tally revealed that 14 high-ranking officials have been officially announced as being investigated, with a long list still awaiting official announcements. All former commanders of the Rocket Force have been removed from their positions. They were all personally promoted by Xi Jinping. It is believed that internal power struggles within the CPC military will continue, and the purge is far from over.
In the afternoon of October 17th, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense spokesperson announced that 9 top generals were placed under investigation. This includes Central Political Bureau member and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission He Weidong, former Director of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission, Miao Hua, former Executive Deputy Director of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission He Hongjun, former Executive Deputy Director of the Joint Operations Command Center of the Military Commission Wang Xiubin, former Commander of the Eastern Theater Command Lin Xiangyang, former Political Commissar of the Army Qin Shutong, former Political Commissar of the Navy Yuan Huazhi, former Commander of the Rocket Force Wang Houbin, and former Commander of the Armed Police Force Wang Chunling.
A tally by The Epoch Times found that since the first wave of purges in the military in the summer of 2023, a total of 31 senior officers have been explicitly investigated, including 14 generals, 14 lieutenant generals, and 3 major generals.
Among the previously investigated top generals in 2023 were five senior generals, including former Defense Ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu (Wei was the first Commander of the Rocket Force). Also, Air Force former commander Ding Laihang, Rocket Force former commander Li Yuchao, and Rocket Force former commander Zhou Yaning.
The fallen top generals, including He Weidong, Li Shangfu, and Wei Fenghe, are all deputy national-level leaders.
Previously unannounced generals under investigation included Liu Qingsong, Political Commissar of the Eastern Theater Command, Wang Haijiang, Commander of the Western Theater Command, Huang Ming, Commander of the Northern Theater Command, former Army Commander Han Weiguo, former Naval Commissar Qin Shengxiang, Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary Wang Renhua of the Military Commission, and Armed Police Force Political Commissar Zhang Hongbing.
Generals rumored to have been removed from their positions include Navy Commander Hu Zhongming, Army Commander Li Qiaoming, and Information Support Force Political Commissar Li Wei. Former Rocket Force Political Commissar Xu Zhongbo was dismissed in July 2023, and former Commander of the Strategic Support Force Ju Qiansheng was also dismissed the same year.
Central Theater Command Commander Wang Qiang and Political Commissar Xu Deqing were absent from this year’s National Day reception and military parade on September 3. However, according to CCTV news, Central Theater Command Commander Wang Qiang participated in the Fourth Plenary Session.
Independent commentator Cai Shenkun disclosed to The Epoch Times on October 18th that after the announcement of the 9 top generals under investigation, another 4 senior generals have been brought down, including Xu Xueqiang, Minister of Equipment Development, Xu Qiling, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Department, Xu Xisheng, Political Commissar of the Rocket Force, and Xiao Tianliang, President of the National Defense University. Additionally, 9 lieutenant generals and 15 major generals were removed from their posts, including former Military Office Director and current Political Commissar of the National Defense University Zhong Shaojun.
The source mentioned that there are still hundreds of generals waiting in line for review. The so-called “Xi family army” formed after the 20th National Congress has basically been wiped out.
However, these reports have not been confirmed.
This wave of purges within the CPC military is highly unusual in its scale and reach. It involves senior officers from various branches of the military, with extensive implications for the Rocket Force, the Political Work Department of the Military Commission, and the personnel development.
The Rocket Force, previously known as the Second Artillery Corps, was established by Xi Jinping as a vital component of the national defense reform. However, all four commanders appointed since its establishment in 2015 have been removed from their positions. Wang Houbin took over as Commander of the Rocket Force only after the Rocket Force scandal erupted in July 2023.
During the recent Fourth Plenary Session, 11 members nominated as Central Committee members bypassed 4 senior generals who were expected to be promoted, including Deputy Commander of the Rocket Force Wang Liyan. During the nomination process at the Third Plenary Session, Deputy Political Commissar of the Rocket Force Ding Xingnong was also passed over. Unless they have violated rules or regulations, according to party norms, they shouldn’t have been skipped.
Previously, corruption scandals within the Rocket Force have been exposed by foreign media. On January 6, 2024, Bloomberg reported on intelligence assessments revealing several instances of corruption within the Chinese military, including missiles being filled with water instead of fuel and difficulties in opening missile silo covers in western China.
Although the Rocket Force has been a major target of anti-corruption efforts, the newly appointed Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, Zhang Shengmin, is also a senior general from the Rocket Force.
Based on the official resume released recently, Zhang Shengmin remains Secretary of the Central Military Commission Discipline Inspection Commission after being promoted to Vice Chairman of the Military Commission.
Informed sources recently revealed to The Epoch Times that Zhang Shengmin’s appointment as Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission was seen as a compromise between Xi Jinping and Zhang Youxia. This appointment indicates a temporary balance of power within the military factions, but deep-rooted conflicts remain unresolved.
The source stated that Zhang Shengmin’s appointment was a result of coordination between the two sides. Zhang Shengmin, a native of Shaanxi province like Xi Jinping, has been promoted by both sides as a general from the Rocket Force, making him a mutually acceptable candidate. The source noted, “Zhang Shengmin is considered a moderate in the military, not directly challenging either side, making him the safest choice in the current power play.”
Military observers believe that this does not signal the end of the power struggle between Xi Jinping and the military. The recent purges in the Rocket Force and personnel adjustments indicate that the battle for control continues.
Former Discipline Inspection Commission official Wang Youqun wrote in the Epoch Times that prior to the Fourth Plenary Session, the simultaneous downfall of 9 senior generals was nothing short of seismic within the military. The communiqué released at the Fourth Plenary Session indicates that there may be further aftershocks within the CPC military.
Political commentator Li Yanming pointed out that the unusual absence of dozens of central and alternate central committee members at the Fourth Plenary Session, and the failure to nominate several central alternate committee members following past practices, reflect fierce infighting at the top levels of the CPC, laying the groundwork for a major purge after the Fourth Plenary Session.
It is noteworthy that no new senior generals have been promoted this year. In 2023, the Central Military Commission held promotion ceremonies for senior generals four times, the highest since the resumption of military ranks in 1989; and three times in 2024. Observers believe that whether there will be promotions to senior generals, and the background of those generals promoted, will be a key indicator of Xi Jinping’s actual control over military power.